1. The elements are intended to describe a Document Like Object (DLO: Loosely defined as an object which is similar to an object considered to be a document); no attempt is made to assert the suitability of this element set for all possible object types.
2. Common (or core) element set: These are metadata elements that apply to most/many DLOs.
3. The elements of the core are chosen to support resource discovery: recognizing from these elements enough about the target objects to know if they do or do not meet the current information requirements.
4. All elements of the metadata are repeatable.
5. All elements are optional.
6. All elements describe the DLO itself with the exception of the SOURCE element, which can be thought of as a recursive instance of the entire record, except that it applies to an object from which the electronic record is derived.
7. The Core elements are intended to describe intrinsic characteristics of the DLO... thus, transactional data, archival status, and copyright characteristics (as well as others) are not included in this set.
8. No assumption is made concerning whether the DLOs are network accessible or specifically electronic.
9. The core element set assumes an arbitrarily complex hierarchy.
10. Elements not included in the core set are not specifically excluded.
Note: Any implementation will require an extensibility mechanism to include other elements, either of local significance or pointers to other established element sets (MARC, TEI, etc.)