China cracks down on Web sites providing pirated content
Shanghai. July 22. INTERFAX-CHINA - Chinese authorities launched a campaign to identify and shut down Web sites distributing pirated content and products, state media reported on July 22.
According to a report in the Beijing News, the campaign was jointly announced on July 21 by the National Copyright Administration (NCA), the Ministry of Public Security (MPS) and the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT).
From now until the end of October, authorities will identify Web sites deemed to be uploading, distributing or selling pirated content and products. The list will be posted on the NCA Web site, according to the report.
China's three telecom operators will be ordered to stop providing internet access to the offending companies. Any telecom company that continues to provide access will be regarded as an accessory to copyright infringement and face severe punishment, the report said.
This campaign is part of a long-term crackdown on piracy online by China's central government. Similar initiatives will follow in the future, said the report.
The crackdown will focus on audio and video-sharing sites, as well as online literature, gaming, animation and e-commerce sites. Such sites were identified as being likely to contain pirated books, films, music and software, according to the report.
- YXY