The MPEG-21 standard, from the Moving Picture Experts Group, aims at defining an open framework for multimedia applications.
Due to that, we could say that the main objective of the MPEG-21 is to define the technology needed to support users to exchange, access, consume, trade or manipulate Digital Items in an efficient and transparent way.
[8] MPEG-21 defines also a "Rights Expression Language" standard as means of managing restrictions for digital content usage.
As an XML-based standard, MPEG-21 is designed to communicate machine-readable license information and do so in a "ubiquitous, unambiguous and secure" manner.
Among the aspirations for this standard, that the industry hope will put an end to file sharing, is that it will constitute: "A normative open framework for multimedia delivery and consumption for use by all the players in the delivery and consumption chain.