18-7-2009 Game News : China's GAPP Releases a Notice on Foreign-made Game Importation

General Administration of Press and Publication of the People's Republic of China has recently issued a notice on intensifying the management of the examination and approval of online game importation. In view of the fact that Blizzard's joint venture in China is under investigation, World of Warcraft, expected to be showcased at the 2009 ChinaJoy Expo on an unprecedented scale, may not make its appearance when the expo commences on July 23rd in Shanghai, China.

The General Administration of Press and Publication is the only department that is authorized by the State Council of China to take charge of the examination and approval of the importation of online games licensed by overseas copyright owners. Any other departments found exceeding authority to carry out pre-examination and approval shall be deemed to engage in unlawful administration, and relevant enterprises shall have the right to report it to the supervision department under the State Council or institute administrative proceedings according to law.

Besides, Any foreign-made online game exhibition, demonstration, trade or promotion carried out at various game-related conferences, expos, fairs or celebrations held in China, shall be subject to the examination and approval by the General Administration of Press and Publication in accordance with the regulations concerning the examination and approval of online game importation. Those violating the regulations shall be suppressed according to law, and the host, organizer and related enterprises shall be investigated for responsibilities.

The Notice reads in full as follows:

Notice on Intensifying Management of Examination & Approval of Online Game Importation

Over years of normalization and guidance, the online game publishing industry in China has witnessed rapid progress, with everything going well in general. However, some problems that must not be overlooked have also come up recently: some illegal enterprises wantonly propagate harmful games containing pornography and violence; some enterprises publish and operate imported online games without examination and approval by the competent authority; some overseas organizations even promote and exhibit unapproved foreign games vigorously at expos and conferences under the mask of technology input, causing evil influences on the social environment; some departments, without authorization from the State Council, arrange pre-examination and approval for foreign-made online games and carry out examination for imported online games on their own, leading to repeated examinations and disturbing the normal administration process. To further regulate the online game publishing service pre-examination and approval, as well as the examination, approval, supervision and administration of the importation of online games licensed by overseas copyright owners, and to standardize the conferences, expos and fairs and other activities relating to imported online games, the following notice is therefore made:

1. The General Administration of Press and Publication assumes the responsibility for “the pre-examination and approval of the online publishing of game publications”. Any enterprise which wishes to engage in online game publishing and operation service in China shall go through the pre-examination and approval by the General Administration of Press and Publication and obtain the Internet Publication License covering the online game publishing service scope. Any enterprise found engaging in the online game publishing and operation service without approval shall be suppressed at once according to law.

2. The General Administration of Press and Publication “assumes the responsibility for the examination and approval of the publishing of online games licensed by overseas copyright owners. Any imported online games licensed by overseas copyright owners shall not be published or operated in China without examination and approval by the General Administration of Press and Publication. Violating games shall be suppressed and stop service in China according to law.

3. The General Administration of Press and Publication is the only department that is authorized by the State Council of China to take charge of the examination and approval of the importation of online games licensed by overseas copyright owners. Any other departments found exceeding authority to carry out pre-examination and approval shall be deemed to engage in unlawful administration, and relevant enterprises shall have the right to report it to the supervision department under the State Council or institute administrative proceedings according to law.

4. Any foreign-made online game exhibition, demonstration, trade or promotion carried out at various game-related conferences, expos, fairs or celebrations held in China, shall be subject to the examination and approval by the General Administration of Press and Publication in accordance with the regulations concerning the examination and approval of online game importation. Those violating the regulations shall be suppressed according to law, and the host, organizer and related enterprises shall be investigated for responsibilities.

5. All media including newspapers, magazines and network media shall not cover or propagandize the above-mentioned misconducts and activities, but instead they should bring their function of supervising public opinions into play.

6. Local press and publication departments at different levels shall intensify the supervision and administration over online game importation, and as required in the Notice, regulate the related enterprises and activities in their respective local area in a centralized manner. Any violation of relevant laws and regulations of the country shall be strictly investigated, punished and rectified, making sure the online game publishing industry grows in a healthy and orderly manner.

Related News:

Blizzard Being Suspected of Illegal Joint Venture, WOW Facing Suspension Forever in China

By mmosite