Regulations on Administration of Internet-Based Audio-Video Program Services

These Regulations on Administration of Internet-based Audio-Video Program Services have been promulgated upon approval by the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television and the Ministry of Information Industry of the People’s Republic of China and shall take effect as of January 31, 2008.

Wang Taihua
Director, State Administration of Radio, Film and Television
Wang Xudong
Minister, Ministry of Information Industry of the People’s Republic of China
December 20, 2007

Article 1 These Regulations are enacted in accordance with concerned government regulations with a view to safeguarding state and public interests, protecting lawful rights and interests of both the public and Internet-based audio-video program service providers, regulating Internet-based audio-video program services and promoting healthy and orderly development. 

Article 2 These Regulations are applicable to the public provision of Internet-based (including the Mobile Internet) audio-video program services within the territory of the People’s Republic of China. 

The Internet-based audio-video program services contemplated in these Regulations refer to producing, compiling, integrating and public providing over the Internet of video/audio programs and such activities as providing services for others to upload and spread programs. 

Article 3 The department in charge of radio, film and television operations under the State Council, as the industrial authority for Internet-based audio-video program services, shall be responsible for supervision and administration of Internet-based audio-video program services, overall planning of industrial development and management, content creation and safety monitoring in the area of Internet-based audio-video program services. The department in charge of the information industry under the State Council, as authorities of the Internet industry, shall implement supervision and administration of Internet-based audio-video program services as required according to administrative responsibilities of the telecommunication industry. 

Radio, film and television authorities of local governments and local telecommunication administrations shall implement supervision and administration of Internet-based audio-video program service providers and access services within their respective administrative areas as appropriate according to their responsibilities 

Article 4 Both Internet-based audio-video program service providers and concerned network operators are key building forces of network cultures, responsible for developing a network culture with Chinese characteristics and safeguarding cultural information safety on networks, and shall consciously abide by the Constitution, laws and administrative regulations and be subject to management by industrial authorities for Internet-based audio-video program services and authorities of the Internet industry. 

Article 5 Nation-wide social groups composed of Internet-based audio-video program service providers shall be responsible for formulating the industry’s self-discipline codes, advocating appropriate use of the Internet, creating a civilized and healthy network environment, spreading healthy and beneficial audio-video programs, rejecting and preventing from spreading decadent and degenerated ideologies and cultures and operating under the guidance of the State Council’s radio, film and television authorities. 

Article 6 Internet-based audio-video program services shall be developed in such ways as to be helpful in spreading the advanced socialist culture, driving full-scale social progresses and personal development and promoting social harmony. Operators of Internet-based audio-video program services shall keep making efforts to serve the people and socialism, follow correct orientations, put social benefits as their top priorities, build the socialist core value system, abide by socialist moral codes, vigorously carry forward ideologies and cultures that embody development of the era and social progresses as well as excellent cultural traditional of the nation, provide more and better Internet-based audio-video program services to meet ever-increasing demands of the people and keep enriching their spiritual and cultural lives, fully bring into play cultural functions in nourish souls, cultivate sentiment, and entertaining both the bodies and minds, create a good Internet space for youths to grow up and form a spiritual home built and shared by everyone. 

Article 7 Operators of Internet-based audio-video program services shall obtain the License for Spreading Audio-Video Programs over Information Network (the License) issued by radio, film and television authorities or complete record-filing procedures as required in these Regulations. 

No units or individuals shall operate in Internet-based audio-video program services without obtaining the License issued by radio, film and television authorities or complete record-filing procedures as required in these Regulations. 

Business compliance directories for Internet-based audio-video program services shall be prepared by the department in charge of radio, film and television operations under the State Council in consultation with the department in charge of the information industry under the council. 

Article 8  Applicants for Internet-based audio-video program services shall meet the following conditions:
(1) Being a state-owned sole proprietorship or holding unit with a legal person status, without law or regulation breaking records within three years before the application date;
(2) Having a sound management system for safe program spreading and technical measures for safety protection;
(3) Having audio-video program resources that are both appropriate for their businesses and compliant with national regulations;
(4) Having technical competence, network resources and funds that are appropriate for their businesses, with lawful financial sources;
(5) Having professionals that are appropriate for their businesses, with major investors and operators free of law or regulation breaking records within three years before the application date;
(6) Having a technical scheme that is compliant with national standards, industrial standards and technical specifications;
(7) Being compliant with overall plans, layouts and business compliance directories prepared by the department in charge of radio, film and television operations under the State Council for Internet-based audio-video program services;
(8) Being compliant with laws, administrative regulations and concerned national regulations. 

Article 9  Radio and TV station operators of ideological services and audio/video news services that fall in the category of political news and current events, in addition to being compliant with Article 8 of these Regulations, shall also operate with the Radio and TV Broadcaster License or the Internet News & Information Service License. Where such operators broadcast audio-video programs via their own channels, an application shall be submitted to a prefecture or higher level city’s radio or TV station or to a central government-affiliated news unit. 

Operators of audio/video services that fall in the category of news anchoring, interview and report, in addition to being compliant with Article 8 of these Regulations, shall also operate with the Radio and TV Program Production License and the Internet News & Information Service License; Where such operators provide services that fall in the category of self-produced online shows, the Radio and TV Program Production License is required. 

No organizations or individuals shall launch businesses using a proprietary radio or TV program title over the Internet without approval. 

Article 10 License applications shall be submitted to the department in charge of radio, film and television operations under the State Council through governmental radio, film and television authorities of provinces, autonomous regions, or municipalities directly under the central government. Central government-affiliated units may directly apply to the department in charge of radio, film and television operations under the State Council. 

Governmental radio, film and television authorities of provinces, autonomous regions, or municipalities directly under the central government shall, within 20 days upon receipt of the said applications, provide convenient services and come up with preliminary review opinions, which shall be submitted to the department in charge of radio, film and television operations under the State Council for approval; the department in charge of radio, film and television operations under the State Council shall make an approval or disapproval decision within 40 days upon receipt of the said applications or preliminary review opinions, including a 20-day expert review period. Where an approval decision is made, the License shall be issued to the applicant, along with a public announcement; where a disapproval decision is made, the applicant shall be notified in writing of the disapproval and the reasons for it. The License shall indicate broadcasting logos, names, service categories and other items for involved Internet-based audio-video program services. 

The term of the License will be three years. Should operators of Internet-based audio-video program services need to renew their licenses upon expiration of the term, they shall prepare concerned materials compliant with conditions set forth in Article 8 of these Regulations and apply to the original licensing office for license renewal procedures within 30 days before the expiration. 

Where a prefecture or higher level city’s radio or TV station is to operate services that fall in the category of Internet-based audio-video program broadcasting, it shall complete record-filing procedures with provincial or higher level radio, film and television authorities. Where a central government-affiliated news unit is to operate services that fall in the category of Internet-based audio-video program broadcasting, it shall complete record-filing procedures with the department in charge of radio, film and television operations under the State Council. Record-file submitters shall submit concerned filing records such as website addresses and names, radio or TV channels to be used and column titles 30 days before program broadcasting and radio, film and television authorities shall make a public announcement about record-filing conditions. 

Article 11  Any units that have received the License shall apply to telecommunication administrations of provinces (autonomous regions and municipalities directly under the central government) or the department in charge of the information industry under the State Council (hereinafter collectively referred to as telecommunication authorities) for telecommunication business licenses or complete required record-filing procedures in accordance with the Measures for Administration of Information Services over Internet and complete registration or registration changing procedures with industrial and commercial administrations as required by laws. Telecommunication authorities shall perform strict domain name and IP address management in accordance with licenses issued by radio, film and television authorities. 

Article 12  Where Internet-based audio-video program service providers are to change their registered capitals, shareholders and equity structures, or their assets undergo major changes or they go public or be engaged in other major financing operations, or their businesses exceed the scope specified in the License, they shall complete approval procedures in accordance with these Regulations. Where Internet-based audio-video program service providers are to change their business premises and legal representatives, or Internet-based information service providers have their website addresses and names changed as required by laws, they shall report for the record to provincial or higher level radio, film and television authorities and telecommunication authorities within 15 days after such changes. Where such changes involve registration with industrial and commercial administrations, they shall complete registration changing procedures with industrial and commercial administrations. 

Article 13  Internet-based audio-video program service providers shall provide Internet-based audio-video program services within 90 days upon receipt of the License. Should they fail to provide services within the specified period, their licenses will be revoked by the original licensing office unless otherwise permitted by the office under special circumstances. Where operator apply for termination of services, they shall submit their applications to the original licensing office before 60 days, and their licenses will be revoked by the original licensing office. Where operators cease their operations for more than 60 consecutive days, the original licensing office shall treat it as a case of business termination and revoke their licenses. 

Article 14 Internet-based audio-video program service providers shall operate Internet-based audio-video program services as indicated in the License or record-filing items and display broadcasting logos, titles and license or record-file numbers approved by the department in charge of radio, film and television operations under the State Council at obvious positions on program screens. 

No units shall provide such financial and technical services as commissioned payment collection, signal transmission and server hosting related to Internet-based audio-video program services to a unit that has not obtained the License or completed record-filing procedures. 

Article 15 State-owned strategic investors are encouraged to make investments in Internet-based audio-video program services providers; Internet-based audio-video program service providers are encouraged to vigorously develop new services that fit in the Next Generation Internet and mobile communication, vigorously produce positive, healthy audio-video programs for mobile multimedia and multimedia websites and energetically boost their supply capacity of Internet-based audio-video programs; film and TV production bases and TV program producers are encouraged to produce more films, TV shows and entertainment programs that are suitable to be spread over the Internet and vigorously develop a Chinese style Internet-based film and TV industry; and Internet-based audio-video program service providers are encouraged to spread public welfare-oriented audio-video programs. 

Internet-based audio-video program service providers shall abide by authorship laws and administrative regulations and take copyright protection measures to protect copyright holders’ lawful rights and interests. 

Article 16 Audio-video programs provided by Internet-based audio-video program service providers and accessed via network operators shall be compliant with laws, administrative regulations and industrial rules. An audio or video program that has been broadcast shall be kept in whole for at least 60 days. Any audio-video programs shall not contain the contents that:
(1) Are against basic Constitutional principles;
(2) Endanger national unity and sovereignty and territorial integrity;
(3) Disclose state secrets, endanger state security or damage national reputation and interests;
(4) Fan ethnic hatred and discrimination, undermine ethnic unity or violate ethnic habits and customs;
(5) Preach evil cults or superstition;
(6) Disturb social orders and disrupt social stability;
(7) Induce minors to break laws and commit crimes and publicize violence, pornography, gambling and horror activities;
(8) Insult or slander others, invade citizens’ personal privacy and other lawful rights and interests;
(9) Endanger public morals and damage the nation’s excellent cultural traditions; and
(10) Other contents that are prohibited by laws, administrative regulations and government policies. 

Article 17 Programs that fall in the category of films and TV shows and other programs used for Internet-based audio-video program services shall be compliant with the government’s administrative regulations for radio, film and TV programs. Audio/video news programs that fall in the category of political news and current events broadcast by Internet-based audio-video program service providers shall be those produced and broadcast by a prefecture or higher level city’s radio or TV station and those posted on a website of a central government-affiliated news unit. 

Any units that have not obtained the License shall not provide services for individuals to upload and spread audio-video program services. Internet-based audio-video program service providers shall not allow individuals to upload audio/video news programs that fall in the category of political news and current events, and, when providing audio-video program uploading and spreading services such as podcasts and video sharing, they shall remind uploaders not to upload audio-video programs that violate these Regulations. No units and individuals shall spread, link, compile and integrate programs from illegal radio and TV channels and audio-video program websites. 

Article 18  Should Internet-based audio-video program service providers be found spreading audio-video programs that violate these Regulations, Radio, film and television authorities shall take necessary actions to stop them. Internet-based audio-video program service providers shall immediately delete any audio-video programs containing contents that violate these Regulations, keep relevant records, perform reporting duties and implement administrative requirements of concerned authorities. 

Major investors and operators of Internet-based audio-video program service providers shall be responsible for the content of broadcast and uploaded audio-video programs. 

Article 19 Internet-based audio-video program service providers shall choose network operators who have lawfully obtained the telecommunication business license for Internet access services or the business license for transmission of radio and TV programs for service provision; protect users’ rights in accordance with laws, perform their commitments to users and keep user information confidential and shall not be engaged in false publicizing or misleading users or establish any rules that are not fair and reasonable to users or cause damage to their lawful rights and interests; and, when providing paid services, publish audio-video program categories, scopes, billing rates and time limits for services provided in an obvious way and inform users of the conditions and modes to terminate or cancel Internet-based audio-video program services. 

Article 20 When providing signal transmission services for Internet-based audio-video programs, network operators shall safeguard lawful rights and interests of audio-video program service providers and ensure transmission safety and shall not insert other programs or intercept and keep audio-video program signals without permission; and, before providing services, check the License or filing credentials of audio-video program service providers and provide access services as indicated on the License or filing scopes. 

Article 21 Radio, film and television as well as telecommunication authorities shall establish a public monitoring and reporting system. The public have the right to report on law or regulation breaking acts of audio-video program service providers and concerned authorities shall handle such reports in time without buck-passing. Should supervision and administration offices in radio, film, television, telecommunication and other areas find any acts that violate these Regulations but are beyond their jurisdiction, they shall transfer such cases to offices with required jurisdiction. 

Telecommunication authorities shall provide necessary technical system interfaces and website data inquiry results to radio, film and television authorities in accordance with concerned government regulations. 

Article 22 Radio, film and television authorities shall perform field examinations on Internet-based audio-video program service providers in accordance with laws and involved units and individuals shall cooperate in such examinations. Personnel of radio, film and television authorities shall be obligated to present their ID when performing field examinations in accordance with laws. 

Article 23 Where any one of the following acts breaking these Regulations occurs, county or higher level radio, film and television authorities shall serve a warning and demand corrective actions and may also impose a fine of no more than RMB 30,000 yuan; at the same time, major investors and operators may be subject to a warning and a fine of no more than RMB 20,000 yuan:
(1) Use of a proprietary radio or TV program title for Internet-based businesses without permission;
(2) Operators change registered capitals, shareholders and equity structures, or go public for financing purposes or their assets undergo major changes without going through approval procedures;
(3) Failure to establish and improve program operation codes, take copyright protection measures, or perform informing, deleting and reporting duties in cases where harmful contents are spread;
(4) Failure to display broadcasting logos, titles and license or record-file numbers at obvious positions on program screens;
(5) Failure to perform duties to keep program records and truthfully provide authorities with inquiry access;
(6) Provide such services as commissioned payment collection, signal transmission and server hosting related to Internet-based audio-video program services to a unit that has not obtained the License or completed record-filing procedures;
(7) Perform no duties in examination and verification or provide Internet-based audio-video program service providers with access services beyond the scope indicated in their licenses or record files;
(8) Engaged in false publicizing or misleading users;
(9) Disclose confidential user information without user consent;
(10) Internet-based audio/video service providers break regulations three times in a year;
(11) Refuse, obstruct and delay radio, film and television authorities in supervision and examination in accordance with laws or practice fraud during the process of supervision and examination;
(12) Obtain the License by obtained by fraud with fake credentials, documents, etc. 

In cases contemplated in (12) of this Article, the licensing office shall revoke the license of the fraud party. 

Article 24 Where any units or individuals operate Internet-based audio-video program services without permission, county or higher level radio, film and television authorities shall serve a warning and demand corrective actions and may also impose a fine of no more than RMB 30,000 yuan; in the event of serious cases, a punishment shall be imposed according to Article 47 of the Regulations on Radio and Television Administration. 

Where contents of an audio or video program in circulation violate these Regulations, county or higher level radio, film and television authorities shall serve a warning and demand corrective actions and may also impose a fine of no more than RMB 30,000 yuan; in the event of serious cases, a punishment shall be imposed according to Article 49 of the Regulations on Radio and Television Administration. 

Where operators of Internet-based audio-video program services act not in accordance with requirements indicated in their licenses or record-filing items or illegally broadcast audio/video news programs that fall in the category of political news and current events, county or higher level radio, film and television authorities shall serve a warning and demand corrective actions and may also impose a fine of no more than RMB 30,000 yuan; in the event of serious cases, a punishment shall be imposed according to Article 50 of the Regulations on Radio and Television Administration. 

Where units or individuals spread, link, compile and integrate contents from illegal radio and TV channels and audio-video program websites or insert other programs or intercept and keep audio-video program signals without permission, county or higher level radio, film and television authorities shall serve a warning and demand corrective actions and may also impose a fine of no more than RMB 30,000 yuan; in the event of serious cases, a punishment shall be imposed according to Article 51 of the Regulations on Radio and Television Administration. 

Article 25 For Internet-based audio-video program service providers who break these Regulations, telecommunication authorities shall shut down their websites, revoke their licenses as concerned and cancel their record files and demand network operators who provide such regulation breakers with signal access services to stop access services according to written recommendations of radio, film and television authorities, laws for telecommunication and Internet management and administrative regulations; where the said network operators refuse the demand to stop access services and violate Article 57 of the Telecommunication Regulations, telecommunication authorities shall revoke their license according to Article 78 of the Telecommunication Regulations. 

Where public security regulations are violated, public security organs shall impose a punishment in accordance with laws; where a crime is suspected, criminal liability shall be investigated by law enforcement authorities in accordance with laws. 

Article 26 In the event of radio, film, television, telecommunication and other authorities not performing their duties or abusing their powers, the persons who are responsible shall be subjected to punishments in accordance with laws, where a crime is suspected, criminal liability shall be investigated law enforcement authorities in accordance with laws. 

Article 27 Where Internet-based audio-video program service providers are involved in major law or regulation breaking cases, besides punishments in accordance with concerned regulations, their major investors and operators shall be banned from investing in and operating Internet-based audio-video program services within 5 years from the date of punishment for the Internet-based audio-video program service providers. 

Article 28 Instant audio-video communication services provided over the Internet shall be kept under supervision and administration by the department in charge of the information industry under the State Council in accordance with concerned government regulations. 

Providers of online audio-video program services using LANs and Internet VPNs shall apply to industrial authorities after pre-reviews by the department in charge of the information industry under the State Council and approval by the department in charge of radio, film and television operations under the State Council, subject to supervision and administration in accordance with concerned government regulations. 

Article 29 These Regulations shall enter into force as of January 31, 2008. In the event of any discrepancy from any previously adopted regulations, these Regulations shall prevail.