Beijing releases software control regulations
CHINA (SCMP.com) - The new regulations prohibit the import and export of unregistered computer software to and from the mainland.
The regulations also require computer software developers and vendors to register with the Ministry of Information Industry (MII) before launching any software on the mainland.
According to the regulations, software producers should seek permission from copyright holders to produce computer software and other forms of media products, such as chips, CD-ROM and VCD. Producers will also be held accountable for the contents of the software or media products.
The regulations also makes it clear that the MII is the sole regulator on the mainland and that it is empowered to ban any software that violates the national standards, infringes on intellectual property rights or contains viruses, illegal information or information that could pose a threat to computer system security.
The regulations also detailed various offences and their possible penalties.
The regulations are the latest in a series of new regulations released over passed two weeks by the MII aimed at stepping up the surveillance and censorship of the information industry.
Early on Tuesday, Beijing handed down tough rules stating that mainland commercial Web portals could only use state-run news sources.