The Chinese government has decided to allow private video-sharing websites to continue operation as long as they do not broadcast illegal content. The State Administration of Radio, Film and Television (SARFT) and the Ministry of Information Industry (MII) said on its website that all video-sharing websites established before 31 January are qualified for a licence and can continue operation.
The licence was needed for any website providing online video services and could have been granted only to State-owned or State-controlled enterprises, according to an earlier regulation that took effect on Friday. “Websites that were established before the regulation took effect and did not have a bad record (in broadcasting illegal content) are qualified to continue their business,” said SARFT. But video-sharing websites established after 31 January have to be State-owned enterprises in order to get the licence, according to the regulator.
On December 29, SARFT and MII sprang a regulation stating that websites that provide video programming or allow users to upload videos in China must obtain a government licence, and applicants must either be State-owned or State-controlled companies. The regulation surprised many, as most video-sharing sites in China are privately held and funded by foreign venture-capital firms.
The latest announcement thus saves hundreds of private video-sharing websites from closure or forced cooperation with State-owned enterprises.
(Source: China Daily)
