# \[F\] MP3Tag's use of Unicode in TLEN field is not ID3V2.3 compliant

**URL:** https://community.mp3tag.de/t/f-mp3tags-use-of-unicode-in-tlen-field-is-not-id3v2-3-compliant/9209
**Category:** Fixed Bugs
**Tags:** bug-fixed
**Created:** [October 26, 2009, 2:24pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/f-mp3tags-use-of-unicode-in-tlen-field-is-not-id3v2-3-compliant/9209 "2009-10-26T14:24:09Z")
**Posts on this page:** 1
**Showing post:** 1

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### Author: ![gvm](https://community.mp3tag.de/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/g/48db29/32.png) [@gvm](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/gvm)
#### Post date: [October 26, 2009, 2:24pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/f-mp3tags-use-of-unicode-in-tlen-field-is-not-id3v2-3-compliant/9209/1 "2009-10-26T14:24:09Z")

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MP3Tag uses Unicode when writing the TLEN field.  
However, at [http://www.id3.org/id3v2.3.0#sec3.3](http://www.id3.org/id3v2.3.0#sec3.3) it says explicitly:

> [@](#):
>
> All numeric strings and URLs are always encoded as ISO-8859-1.

This seem pretty conclusive.  
This has become significant because of Microsoft's recent "security update" KB968816, which no longer permits (non-compliant) Unicode for TLEN, and now refuses to play such files.  
More details here: [http://www.microsoft.com/communities/newsg...78-39d7b355910b](http://www.microsoft.com/communities/newsgroups/en-us/default.aspx?dg=microsoft.public.windowsxp.music&tid=93b45385-c345-4fd9-9b54-a35c4a8f6d0f&cat=&lang=&cr=&sloc=&p=1&mid=e7311eeb-04aa-4009-a078-39d7b355910b)  
and here: [http://www.microsoft.com/communities/newsg...amp;m=1&p=1](http://www.microsoft.com/communities/newsgroups/list/en-us/default.aspx?dg=microsoft.public.windowsmedia.player&tid=3216f2df-39eb-4536-b4a2-b59a5f00dc60&cat=en_us_b80c408d-117a-4d9c-9ba5-55785432b592&lang=en&cr=us&sloc=en-us&m=1&p=1)  
and here: [/t/9208/1](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/9208/1)  
Note: these links describe the issues and the effects, but it has only just become apparent that the problem is with MP3Tag, rather than WMP10.

Regards,  
gvm

p.s. Other than that, MP3Tag is an excellent ID3 tag editor!

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