RealNetworks and a bunch of other companies today announced the eXtensible Media Commerce Language (XMCL) initiative, an open XML-based language designed to establish industry-wide standards for Internet media commerce. The XCML gang thinks that by standardizing the language for business rules, XMCL will enable content to be played in a way that is independent of codecs, digital rights management systems, and e-commerce systems. RealNetworks intends to submit the XMCL proposal to the appropriate standards organization, and will be pushing the initiative toward becoming a standard. Well, you know what that means. These guys want to make sure that you pay for content. One part of the prepubescent standard is "a set of standard business rules to define the parameters of media usage - for example, establishing that a piece of content be viewed a certain number of times per payment." RealNetworks says that more information about XMCL will be available soon at the organization's website . Other technology and media companies participating in the initiative include Abril Group, Accenture, Adobe Systems, Anystream, America Online, Artesia Technologies, Avid Technology, Bertelsmann, British Telecom's BTopenworld, Clear Channel, Context Media, EMI Recorded Music, eMotion, IBM, IFILM, InterTrust, MGM, Napster (those turncoats), Rightsline, Sony Pictures Digital Entertainment, Starz Encore Group, Sun Microsystems, Tiscali, Viant, and Virage.