Two strings denote the same public identity if both names are inten*t*ionally a linguistic or orthographic variant of each other and the public identity identifiers the same "party". Intentionality is important because of cases like "Ian Banks" and "Ian M Banks", which are different public identities even though they both identify the same party (formerly a natural person, now Spirits). I *believe* that names that are not linguistic or orthographic variants require a new ISNI, but I might be mistaken. Simon On Wed, Jun 18, 2014 at 10:54 AM, Ben Companjen <[log in to unmask]> wrote: > Hi Richard, > > Thanks for posting, and thanks to Janifer Gatenby for supplying the answer. > > So my assumption that if someone uses/has a pseudonym, it always refers to > a different public identity was wrong? Who decides what should become just > a new name for an existing identity, and what a different identity? > > Groeten van Ben > > On 18-06-14 14:11, "Richard Wallis" <[log in to unmask]> > wrote: > > >Hi all, > > > >Seeing this thread I checked with the ISNI team and got the following > >answer from Janifer Gatenby who asked me to post it on her behalf: > > > >SNI identifies “public identities”. The scope as stated in the standard > >is > > > > > > > >“This International Standard specifies the International Standard name > >identif*i*er (ISNI) for the identification of public identities of > >parties; > >that is, the identities used publicly by parties involved throughout the > >media content industries in the creation, production, management, and > >content distribution chains.” > > > > > > > >The relevant definitions are: > > > > > > > >*3.1* > > > >*party* > > > >natural person or legal person, whether or not incorporated, or a group of > >either > > > >*3.3* > > > >*public identity* > > > >Identity of a *party *(3.1) or a fictional character that is or was > >presented to the public > > > >*3.4* > > > >*name* > > > >character string by which a *public identity *(3.3) is or was commonly > >referenced > > > > > > > >A party may have multiple public identities and a public identity may have > >multiple names (e.g. pseudonyms) > > > > > > > >ISNI data is available as linked data. There are currently 8 million > >ISNIs > >assigned and 16 million links. > > > > > > > >Example: > > > > > > > >[image: <image001.png>] > > > >~Richard. > > >