A decision to restrict the broadcasting of Internet videos is
beneficial to public interest, a Chinese official said on
Sunday.
The regulation on Internet video service, approved by the State
Administration of Radio, Film and Television and the Ministry of
Information Industry, took effect on Jan. 31.
Under the new regulation, websites that offer video programs
must obtain government permits.
The regulation also clarifies that state capitals should play a
leading role in the industry.
The move was "conducive to the development of the Internet
culture with Chinese characteristics" and was in line with the
State Council's measures about the entry of private companies into
the cultural industry, the official said.
He said the new regulation aimed to create a clean and healthy
on-line environment, especially for the young, and to protect
copyrights.
On-line video providers must adopt copyright protection
measures. Violators face a fine of up to 30,000 yuan (4,100 U.S.
dollars) imposed by local regulators, the regulation said.
Statistics show China now has more than 172 million Internet
users who are on-line for at least one hour a week on average,
second only to the United States.
With the Internet penetration rate reaching 12.3 percent, nearly
70 million computers in the country are connected to the
Internet.
(Xinhua News Agency February 4, 2008)