NOTE: This translation was originally published on the China Copyright and Media blog, a project of DigiChina’s Prof. Rogier Creemers of the University of Leiden. It has not been edited, double-checked, or standardized with DigiChina’s original content. Read more.
Chapter I: General Principles
Article 1: In order to standardize the online publishing services order, stimulate the healthy and orderly development of the online publishing services sector, on the basis of the “Publishing Management Regulations”, the “Internet Information Service Management Regulations” and relevant laws and regulations, these Rules are promulgated.
Article 2: These Rules apply to online publishing services provided within the borders of the People’s Republic of China
Online publishing services as mentioned in these rules refers to the provision of online publications to the public through information networks.
Online publications as mentioned in these rules refers to digitized works with publishing characteristics such as editing, production and processing, provided to the public through information networks, the scope mainly includes:
(1) written, pictorial, game, cartoon, audiovisual reading materials and other such originally created digitized works in the literary, artistic and scientific area, which are characterized by knowledge and ideas;
(2) digitized works whose content is identical to already published books, newspapers, periodicals, audiovisual works, electronic publications, etc.;
(3) online documentary databases composed by selecting, arranging or compiling the abovementioned works and other such digitized works;
(4) other categories of digitized works identified by the State Administration of Press, Publications, Radio, Film and Television.
Concrete sectoral categories for online publishing services will be formulated separately.
Article 3: Those engaging in online publishing services shall abide by the Constitution and relevant laws and regulations, persist in the orientation of serving the people and serving Socialism, persist in the progressive orientation of advanced Socialist culture, carry forward the Socialist core value view, disseminate and accumulate all ideas, morals, scientific, technological and cultural knowledge that benefits the enhancement of the quality of the nation, the promotion of economic development and the stimulation of social progress, and satisfy the daily increasing spiritual culture needs of the popular masses.
Article 4: The State Administration of Press, Publications, Radio, Film and Television is the sectoral controlling body for online publishing services, it is responsible for the preliminary examination, approval, supervision and management work of online publishing services nationwide. The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology is the controlling department for the Internet sector, and carries out corresponding supervision and management over online publishing services nationwide according to its duties.
All levels’ local People’s Government administrative controlling bodies for publishing and all provincial-level controlling bodies for telecommunications, on the basis of the duties of each, carry out corresponding supervision and management work over online publishing services and access services within their administrative areas and provide supplementary work.
Article 5: Administrative publishing controlling departments may, on the basis of already obtained evidence or reports about suspected violations of the law, and when engaging in investigation and prosecution of suspected acts of unlawful engagement in online publishing services inspect materials and business premises relevant to the suspected unlawful act; with regard to materials where it is proven they are related with an unlawful act, they may seal it or hold it in custody.
Article 6: The State encourages that book, audiovisual, electronic, newspaper and periodical publishing work units engage in online publishing services, accelerating the development of convergence with new media.
The State encourages the creation of a sectoral association for online publishing services which, according to its articles of association, formulates sectoral self-disciplinary norms under the leadership of the administrative publishing controlling departments, advocates online civilization, disseminates healthy and beneficial content, and resists improper and harmful content.
Chapter II: Online publishing services licences
Article 7: In order to engage in online publishing services, an “Online Publishing Service Permit” must be obtained through administrative publishing controlling department approval.
Article 8: Book, audiovisual, electronic, newspaper and periodical publishing work units engaging in online publishing services shall meet the following conditions:
(1) having a specific website domain name to engage in online publishing services activities, smart terminal application software and other such publishing platforms;
(2) having a specific scope of online publishing services;
(3) having the necessary technological equipment required to engage in online publishing services, corresponding servers and storage equipment must be located within the borders of the People’s Republic of China.
Article 9: Other work units engaging in online publishing services, apart from the conditions listed in Article 8, shall also meet the following conditions:
(1) having a specific name to engage in online publishing services that does not duplicate another publishing work unit’s, as well as articles of association;
(2) having a statutory representative and main responsible persons conform to State regulations, the statutory representative must be a Chinese citizen with fixed abode within the borders, who has complete capability of action, at least one person among the statutory representative and the main responsible persons shall have mid-level or higher specialist publishing technology qualifications;
(3) outside of the statutory representative and the main responsible persons, having 8 or more specialist editing and publishing personnel suited to the needs of the online publishing services business scope, who have publishing or relevant specialist technology qualifications accredited by the State Administration of Press, Publications, Radio, Film and Television;
(4) having a content examination and proofreading structure needed for online publishing services;
(5) having fixed business premises;
(6) other conditions as provided in laws, administrative regulations and State Administration of Press, Publications, Radio, Film and Television rules.
Article 10: Sino-foreign contractual and cooperative joint ventures, as ell as foreign-operated work units may not engage in online publishing services.
Online publishing services work units who collaborate with Sino-foreign contractual or cooperative joint ventures, foreign-operated enterprises or organizations and individuals from outside the borders who conduct online publishing services activities shall report to the State Administration of Press, Publications, Radio, Film and Television for examination and approval in advance.
Article 11: To engage in online publishing services, an application shall be put forward to the local provincial, autonomous region or municipal administrative publishing controlling department, after examination, verification and approval, the matter will be reported to the State Administration of Press, Publications, Radio, Film and Television for examination and approval. The State Administration of Press, Publications, Radio, Film and Television shall, within 60 days of receiving the application, make a decision of approval or non-approval. In case of non-approval, the reasons shall be explained.
Article 12: Application materials to engage in online publishing services shall include the following content:
(1) an “Online Publishing Service Licence Application Form”;
(2) the work unit’s Articles of Association and evidence of the source and nature of capital;
(3) an online publishing services feasibility analysis report, including fund use, industrial plans, technological criteria, equipment and facilities, organic setup, human resource allocation, market analysis, risk assessment, copyright protection measures, etc.;
(4) the CV, address and identity verification documents of the statutory responsible and the main responsible persons;
(5) documentation concerning the State-accredited professional qualifications of editing, publishing and other such specialist technological personnel and evidence of their main employment experience and training;
(6) evidence of the utilization of work premises;
(7) evidence of the website’s domain name registration, and a commitment that relevant servers will be located within the borders of the People’s Republic of China.
Where work units listed in Article 8 of these rules engage in online publishing services, they must only submit the materials provided in clauses (1), (6) and (7).
Article 13: Applicants for the establishment of online publishing services work units shall, within 30 days of receiving the approval decision, conduct registration formalities:
(1) with the approval documents, go to the local provincial, autonomous region or municipal administrative publishing controlling department to obtain and fill out an “Online Publishing Service Licence Registration Form”;
(2) after provincial, autonomous region or municipal administrative publishing controlling departments examine the “Online Publishing Service Licence Registration Form” and have verified it does not contain errors, an “Online Publishing Service Licence” will be issued to the applicant within 10 days;
(3) the “Online Publishing Service Licence” is issued in identical triplicate, one copy will be kept by the applicant and the provincial, autonomous region or municipal administrative publishing controlling department, the other copy will be submitted by the provincial, autonomous region or municipal administrative publishing controlling department to the State Administration of Press, Publications, Radio, Film and Television for filing within 15 days.
Article 14: The period of validity of the “Online Publishing Service Licence” is five years. When the period of validity expires, and the continued engagement in online publishing services is intended, an application shall be put forward within 60 days before the end of the period of validity according to the procedure provided in Article 11 of these rules. Administrative publishing controlling departments shall make a decision of whether or not they approve extension within the period of validity of the Licence in question. In case of approval, the “Online Publishing Service Licence” is exchanged.
Article 15: After online publishing services are approved, the applicant shall go to the local provincial, autonomous region or municipal telecommunications controlling department with the approval documents and the “Online Publishing Service Licence” to carry out relevant formalities.
Article 16: Where online publishing services work units change the “Online Publishing Service Licence” licencing or registration matter, their financial structure, they merge or divide, or set up branch organs, they shall carry out formalities as provided in Article 11 of these rules, they shall also go to the provincial, autonomous region or municipal telecommunications controlling department with the approval documents to carry out relevant formalities.
Article 17: Where online publishing services work units suspend online publishing services, they shall file this with to the provincial, autonomous region or municipal administrative publishing controlling department, and indicate the reasons and period of time; the period of online publishing services suspension may not exceed 180 days.
Where online publishing services work units terminate online publishing services, they shall, within 30 days of the termination of online publishing services, go to the local provincial, autonomous region or municipal administrative publishing controlling department to carry out registration cancellation formalities, and afterwards go to the provincial, autonomous region or municipal telecommunications controlling department to carry out relevant formalities. Provincial, autonomous region or municipal administrative publishing controlling departments are to report relevant information to the State Administration of Press, Publications, Radio, Film and Television for filing.
Article 18: Where online publishing services work unit have not launched online publishing services within 180 days after registration, the originally registering administrative publishing controlling department will cancel registration, and report the matter to the State Administration of Press, Publications, Radio, Film and Television for filing. At the same time, it is to be reported to the relevant provincial, autonomous region or municipal telecommunications controlling department.
Where the above-mentioned circumstances occur due to acts of god or other proper reasons, online publishing services work units may apply for extension with the originally registering administrative publishing controlling department.
Article 19: Online publishing services work units shall indicate the number of the “Online Publishing Service Licenced” approved and issued by the administrative publishing controlling department on the main page of their website.
When relevant Internet service providers provide manual intervention search rankings, advertising, marketing and other such services to online publishing services work units, they shall verify the “Online Publishing Service Licence” of the service counterpart and their scope of business.
Article 20: Online publishing services work units shall engage in online publishing services according to the approved business scope, they may not engage in online publishing services in excess of the approved business scope.
Article 21: Online publishing services work units may not transfer, rent out or sell the “Online Publishing Service Licence” or transfer online publishing services permission in any way.
Online publishing services work units permitting other online information service providers to provide online publishing services under their name, will be a prohibited act as meant in the previous Paragraph.
Article 22: Special management unit rules are implemented for online publishing services, concrete rules will be formulated separately by the State Administration of Press, Publications, Radio, Film and Television.
Chapter III: Online publishing services management
Article 23: An editorial responsibility system is implemented for online publishing services work units, to guarantee the legality of online publications’ content.
A content examination and verification responsibility system, a responsible editor system, a responsible proof-reader system and other such management systems are implemented for online publishing services work units, to guarantee the publishing quality of online publications.
Where original publications of other publishing work units, which have already been lawfully published domestically and aren’t altered, are published online, the name of the original publisher and the book number, periodical number, online publication number or URL information must be indicated on the corresponding page of the online publication.
Article 24: Online publications may not contain the following content:
(1) content violating the basic principles determined in the Constitution;
(2) content violating national unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity;
(3) content divulging State secrets, endangering national security or harming the nation’s honour and interests;
(4) content inciting ethnic hatred or ethnic discrimination, destroying ethnic unity, or harming ethnic customs and habits;
(5) content propagating heresy and superstition;
(6) content disseminating rumours, upsetting social order, or destroying social stability;
(7) content propagating obscenity, sex, gambling or violence, or abetting crime;
(8) content slandering or defaming others, or harming other persons’ lawful rights and interests;
(9) content endangering social public morals or the nation’s excellent cultural traditions;
(10) other content prohibited by laws, administrative regulations and State rules.
Article 25: In order to protect the lawful rights and interests of minors, online publications may not contain content inducing minors to imitate acts violating social morals, or illegal and criminal acts, they may not contain frightful or brutal content, or other such content that might impair the physical and mental health of minors, they may not contain content divulging the personal privacy of minors.
Article 26: Online publishing services work units publishing content involving national security, social stability and other such major themes shall carry out filing procedures according to the State Administration of Press, Publications, Radio, Film and Television’s rules concerning filing management of major themes. Without filing the major themed content, it may not be published.
Article 27: Before online games are uploaded, an application must be put forward with the provincial, autonomous region or municipal administrative publishing controlling department, after examination, verification and agreement, it is to be reported to the State Administration of Press, Publications, Radio, Film and Television for examination and approval.
Article 28: Where the content of online publications is inaccurate or unfair, resulting in harm to the lawful rights and interests of citizens, legal persons or other organizations, corresponding online publishing services work units shall cease the infringement, publicly rectify the matter, eliminate the influence, and bear other civil liabilities according to the law.
Article 29: The State implements labelling management of online publications, separate rules will be formulated separately by the State Administration of Press, Publications, Radio, Film and Television.
Article 30: Online publications must conform to relevant State regulations and standards, so as to ensure the quality of publications.
Language and written characters used in publications must conform to the provisions of State law and relevant standards and norms.
Article 31: Online publishing services work units shall, according to relevant State provisions or technological standards, allocate the required equipment and systems, establish and complete all kinds of management systems, to guarantee information security and the legality of content, and provide technological support to administrative publishing controlling departments carrying out supervision and management duties according to the law.
Article 32: Online publishing services work units shall, when providing foreign publications online, obtain lawful copyright authorization. Specifically, for the publication of online games authorized by foreign copyright holders, examination and approval formalities must be carried out according to the provisions of Article 27 of these rules.
Article 33: Where online publishing services work units discover that online publications they public contain content as listed in Article 24 or Article 25 of these rules, they shall immediately delete it, preserve relevant records, and report the matter to the local county-level or higher administrative publishing controlling department.
Article 34: Online publishing services work units shall record the content of the works they published, as well as the time, URL or domain name, records shall be preserved for 60 days, and provide them when relevant State departments inquire about them according to the law.
Article 35: Online publishing services work units must abide by State regulations on statistics, and report statistical information to administrative publishing controlling departments according to the law.
Chapter IV: Supervision and management
Article 36: Online publishing services supervision and management is organized on the principle of localized management.
All levels’ administrative publishing controlling departments shall strengthen supervision and management of online publishing services work units located within their administrative areas and their publishing activities, and carry out the following duties:
(1) conducting sectoral supervision and management over online publishing services work units, investigating and prosecuting instances where online publishing services work units’ circumstances violate these rules and reporting the matter to the higher level administrative publishing controlling department;
(2) conducting supervision and management of online publishing services, investigating and prosecuting acts violating these rules and reporting the matter to the higher level administrative publishing controlling department;
(3) conducting supervision and management over online publications’ content and quality, regularly organizing content evaluation and quality inspection, and reporting the results to the higher-level administrative publishing controlling department;
(4) conducting management of online publishing employees, regularly organizing positional and professional training and assessment;
(5) coordinating with higher-level administrative publishing controlling departments, collaborating with relevant departments, and guiding the work of lower-level administrative publishing controlling departments.
Article 37: Administrative publishing controlling departments shall strengthen the construction of supervision teams and bodies, adopt the necessary technological means to conduct management of online publishing services. When administrative publishing controlling departments carry out supervision, inspection and other such law enforcement responsibilities according to the law, online publishing services work units shall provide collaboration, and may not refuse or obstruct them.
Provincial, autonomous region or municipal administrative publishing controlling departments shall regularly submit written reports concerning the online publishing services supervision and management situation in their administrative areas to the State Administration of Press, Publications, Radio, Film and Television.
Article 38: An annual examination system is implemented for online publishing services work unit, the annual examination will be carried out once per year. Provincial, autonomous region or municipal administrative publishing controlling departments are responsible for conducting annual examinations of online publishing services work units within their administrative areas and reporting the relevant circumstances to the State Administration of Press, Publications, Radio, Film and Television for filing. Annual examination content includes the online publishing services work units’ establishment conditions, registration matters, publishing business situation, publishing quality, respect for laws and standards, internal management situation, etc.
Article 39: Annual examination shall be conducted according to the following procedure:
(1) online publishing services work units submit an annual self-examination report, of which the content includes: the situation of implementing policies and laws in that year, the situation of rewards and punishments, the situation of website publishing, management and operational results, the online publication catalogue, the situation of rectification of acts violating laws and regulations within the period of that annual examination, the situation of training and management of editors and publishing personnel; they are to fill out an “Online Publishing Services Annual Examination Registration Form” uniformly produced by the State Administration of Press, Publications, Radio, Film and Television, and submit this to the local provincial, autonomous region or municipal administrative publishing controlling department together with the self-examination report;
(2) provincial, autonomous region or municipal administrative publishing controlling departments conduct a comprehensive inspection and verification of the establishment conditions, registration matters, business operations, law implementation and other such situations of online publishing services work units within their administrative areas, and complete the annual examination work within 45 days of receiving online publishing services work units’ annual self-examination reports and the “Online Publishing Services Annual Examination Registration Form” and other such annual evaluation materials. Online publishing services conforming to the requirements of annual examinations are granted registration, and their “Online Publishing Service Licence” will be stamped with the annual examination stamp;
(3) provincial, autonomous region or municipal administrative publishing controlling departments shall, within 15 days of finishing the comprehensive examination work, report the annual examination situation and relevant written materials to the State Administration of Press, Publications, Radio, Film and Television for filing.
Article 4: Where one of the following circumstances, annual examination shall be deferred:
(1) currently having suspended operations for rectification;
(2) violating publishing laws and regulations, which should be punished;
(3) not having implemented relevant administrative publishing controlling department management regulations according to requirement;
(4) having chaotic internal management, not having launched substantive online publishing services activities without proper reason;
(5) where other suspected legal violations, such as copyright infringement, exist that require further examination.
The period of deferral of annual examination is determined by provincial, autonomous region or municipal administrative publishing controlling departments, and reported to the State Administration of Press, Publications, Radio, Film and Television for filing, at most, it may not exceed 180 days. During the period of annual examination deferral, online publishing services must be stopped.
When the period of annual examination deferral expires, annual examination formalities must be conducted again according to these rules.
Article 41: Where the conditions provided in Article 8 and Article 9 are no longer met, rectification within a limited time is ordered; where rectification is not complete at the expiry of the time limit, an annual examination pass is not granted, the State Administration of Press, Publications, Radio, Film and Television cancels the “Online Publishing Service Licence”, the local provincial, autonomous region or municipal administrative publishing controlling department cancels registration, and notifies the local telecommunications controlling department to handle the matter according to the law.
Article 42: Provincial, autonomous region or municipal administrative publishing controlling departments may, on the basis of real circumstances, adjust the annual examination matters within their administrative regions, and report the corresponding situation to the State Administration of Press, Publications, Radio, Film and Television for filing.
Article 43: Provincial, autonomous region or municipal administrative publishing controlling departments may publish the annual examination results to the public.
Article 44: Editing, publishing and other such specialist technological personnel engaging in online publishing services and their responsible persons shall conform to State regulations concerning professional qualification management of editing, publishing and other such specialist technological personnel.
Online publishing services work units’ statutory representative or main responsible persons shall, according to regulations, participate in positional training organized by the administrative publishing controlling department, and obtain a “Position Training Qualification Certificate” uniformly issued by the State Administration of Press, Publications, Radio, Film and Television. Those who have not participated in positional training or have not obtained a “Position Training Qualification Certificate” after training may not continue to undertake the role of statutory representative or main responsible person.
Chapter V: Guarantees and awards
Article 45: The State formulates relevant policies to guarantee and stimulate the development and flourishing of online publishing services. It encourages online publishing services that propagate scientific truth, disseminate of advanced culture, propose a scientific spirit, mould beautiful hearts and minds, carry forward correct social atmospheres and assist the creation of advanced online culture in other means, and promotes the digitization and networked dissemination of healthy culture and excellent cultural products.
Where online publishing services work units engage in online publishing services according to the law, no organization or individual may interfere, obstruct or destroy them.
Article 46: The State supports and encourages the publication of the following excellent and focus online publications:
(1) those having a major importance in expounding or disseminating the basic principles determined in the Constitution;
(2) those having a major importance in carrying forward the Socialist core value system, engaging in patriotic, collectivist, Socialist and national unity education as well as carrying forward social morals, professional ethics, household morals and individual virtue;
(3) those having a major importance in carrying forward the nation’s excellent culture, or stimulating international cultural exchange;
(4) those having indigenous intellectual property rights or excellent cultural content;
(5) those making important contributions to moving forward cultural innovation, or timely reflecting domestic and foreign new scientific and cultural achievements;
(6) those having a major importance in stimulating public cultural services;
(7) those specially targeting youth, with healthy content, or benefiting the healthy growing up of minors in other ways;
(8) others having important ideological value, scientific value, cultural or artistic value.
Article 47: Awards will be given, according to relevant State regulations, to work units and individuals who make important contributions to the development and flourishing of the online publishing services sector.
Article 48: The State protects the lawful rights and interests of copyright holders of online publications. Online publishing services work units shall abide by copyright laws and regulations such as the “Copyright Law of the People’s Republic of China”, “Regulations to Protect the Right to Dissemination on Information Network”, the “Computer Software Protection Regulations”, etc.
Article 49: Administrative publishing controlling departments and other relevant departments shall timely adopt measures to curb acts of illegal interference, obstruction or destruction of online publishing.
Chapter VI: Legal liability
Article 50: Where online publishing services work units violate these rules, administrative publishing controlling departments may adopt the following administrative measures:
(1) issuing a warning notification;
(2) issuing a criticism report, ordering rectification;
(3) ordering open self-criticism;
(4) ordering deletion of unlawful content.
Warning notifications are produced uniformly by the State Administration of Press, Publications, Radio, Film and Television, and are delivered by the administrative publishing controlling department to the corresponding online publishing services work unit.
The administrative measures listed in this Article may be applied in combination.
Article 51: Against those engaging in unauthorized online publishing services or unauthorized online publishing of online games (including online games authorized by foreign copyright holders) without permission, on the basis of the provisions of Article 61 of the “Publishing Management Regulations” and Article 19 of the “Internet Information Service Management Rules”, the administrative publishing controlling department and administrative industry and commerce management department will issue a ban according to their legal responsibilities, and the local provincial-level telecommunications controlling department will, on the basis of a notice from the relevant departments and according to the provisions of Article 19 of the “Internet Information Service Management Rules”, impose punishments such as ordering the closure of websites; where the matter violates criminal law, criminal liability will be prosecuted according to the law; where the matter is insufficient for criminal punishment, all relevant online publications are to be deleted, and the unlawful income as ell as the main equipment and special tools used to engage in unlawful publishing activities confiscated, where the unlawful business value is 10.000 Yuan or more, a fine of 5 times or more but less than 10 times the unlawful business value is imposed additionally; where the unlawful business value is less than 10.000 Yuan, a fine of 50.000 Yuan may additionally be imposed; where another person’s lawful rights and interests are infringed, civil liability will be borne according to the law.
Article 52: Where online publications containing content prohibited by Article 24 or Article 25 of these rules are published or disseminated, according to the provisions of Article 62 of the “Publishing Management Regulations” and Article 20 of the “Internet Information Service Management Rules”, the administrative publishing controlling department orders deletion of the relevant content and rectification within a limited time, and confiscates the unlawful income, where the unlawful business volume is 10.000 Yuan or more, it additionally imposes a fine of 5 times or more but less than 10 times the unlawful business value; where the unlawful business value is less than 10.000 Yuan, a fine of 50.000 Yuan may additionally be imposed; where circumstances are grave, cessation of business for rectification within a time limit will be ordered, or the State Administration of Press, Publications, Radio, Film and Television cancels the “Online Publishing Service Permit”, and the telecommunications controlling department will, on the basis of notification by the administrative publishing controlling department, cancel their telecommunications business permits or order closure of websites; where the matter constitutes a crime, criminal liability will be prosecuted according to the law.
Where online publishing services work units committing acts listed in Paragraph I of this Article provide human intervention search rankings, advertising, marketing and other such corresponding services, the administrative publishing controlling department will order cessation of provision of such corresponding services.
Article 53: Where Article 21 of these rules is violated, on the basis of the provisions of Article 66 of the “Publishing Management Regulations”, the administrative publishing controlling department orders cessation of the unlawful act, issues a warning, and confiscates unlawful income; where the unlawful business volume is 10.000 Yuan or more, it additionally imposes a fine of 5 times or more but less than 10 times the unlawful business value; where the unlawful business value is less than 10.000 Yuan, a fine of 50.000 Yuan may additionally be imposed; where circumstances are grave, cessation of business for rectification within a time limit will be ordered, or the State Administration of Press, Publications, Radio, Film and Television cancels the “Online Publishing Service Permit”.
Article 54: Where one of the following acts occurs, on the basis of the provisions of Article 67 of the “Publishing Management Regulations”, the administrative publishing controlling department orders rectification and issues a warning; where circumstances are grave, cessation of business for rectification within a time limit will be ordered, or the State Administration of Press, Publications, Radio, Film and Television cancels the “Online Publishing Service Permit”:
(1) where online publishing services work units change the registration matter of their “Online Publishing Service Licence” or capital structure, engage in online publishing services outside the approved service scope, merge or separate, or establish branch organs, without carrying out examination and approval formalities according to these rules;
(2) where online publishing services publish publications involving major themes not according to regulations;
(3) where online publishing services work units suspend online publishing services without authorization in excess of 180 days;
(4) where the quality of online publications does not conform to relevant regulations and standards.
Article 55: Where Article 34 of these rules is violated, on the basis of the provisions of Article 21 of the “Internet Information Service Management Rules”, the provincial-level telecommunications management department orders rectification; where circumstances are grave, cessation of business for rectification is ordered, or the website is temporarily closed.
Article 56: Where online publishing services work units have not submitted statistical materials to the administrative publishing controlling department according to the law, they will be punished according to the “Press and Publications Statistical Management Rules”.
Article 57: Where online publishing services work units violate the provisions of Chapter II of these rules, and obtain a licence through fraud, bribery or other such improper means, the State Administration of Press, Publications, Radio, Film and Television will cancel the corresponding licence.
Article 58: Where one of the following acts are committed, the administrative publishing controlling department will order rectification, issue a warning, and impose a fine of 30.000 Yuan or less:
(1) where in violation of Article 10 of these rules, collaboration with domestic or foreign Sino-foreign collaborative or contractual joint ventures, or foreign-operated enterprises affecting online publishing services is carried out;
(2) where in violation of Article 19 of these rules, the relevant licence information is not indicated or the “Online Publishing Service Licence” of the corresponding website is not verified;
(3) where in violation of Article 23 of these rules, the editorial responsibility system and other such management systems are not carried out according to regulations;
(4) where in violation of Article 31 of these rules, relevant applied systems or equipment are not allocated according to regulations or standards, or relevant management systems are incomplete;
(5) where annual examination is not participated in according to regulations and demands;
(6) where in violation of Article 44 of these rules, the statutory representative or main responsible persons of the online publishing services work unit have not obtained a “Position Training Qualification Certificate”;
(7) where other administrative publishing controlling department regulations concerning online publishing management are violated.
Article 59: Where online publishing services work units are punished by cancellation of licences for violating these rules, their statutory representative or main responsible persons may not take up the position of statutory representative or main responsible person in an online publishing services work unit for ten years starting from the day the licence is cancelled.
The original permit issuing body will cancel the qualification certificates of those editing, publishing and other such specialist technological personnel engaging in online publishing services and their responsible persons who violate these rules and circumstances are grave.
Chapter VII: Supplementary provisions
Article 60: The publication content responsibility system, responsible editor system, responsible proof-reader system and other such management systems as mentioned in these Rules shall be implemented according to the relevant provisions of the “Book Quality Guarantee System”.
Article 61: These Rules take effect on 10 March 2016. The “Provisional Internet Publishing Management Regulations” promulgated on 27 June 2002 by the original General Administration of Press and Publications and the Ministry of Information Industry are abolished at the same time.
网络出版服务管理规定
第一章 总则
第一条 为了规范网络出版服务秩序，促进网络出版服务业健康有序发展，根据《出版管理条例》、《互联网信息服务管理办法》及相关法律法规，制定本规定。
第二条 在中华人民共和国境内从事网络出版服务，适用本规定。
本规定所称网络出版服务，是指通过信息网络向公众提供网络出版物。
本规定所称网络出版物，是指通过信息网络向公众提供的，具有编辑、制作、加工等出版特征的数字化作品，范围主要包括：
（一）文学、艺术、科学等领域内具有知识性、思想性的文字、图片、地图、游戏、动漫、音视频读物等原创数字化作品；
（二）与已出版的图书、报纸、期刊、音像制品、电子出版物等内容相一致的数字化作品；
（三）将上述作品通过选择、编排、汇集等方式形成的网络文献数据库等数字化作品；
（四）国家新闻出版广电总局认定的其他类型的数字化作品。
网络出版服务的具体业务分类另行制定。
第三条 从事网络出版服务，应当遵守宪法和有关法律、法规，坚持为人民服务、为社会主义服务的方向，坚持社会主义先进文化的前进方向，弘扬社会主义核心价值观，传播和积累一切有益于提高民族素质、推动经济发展、促进社会进步的思想道德、科学技术和文化知识，满足人民群众日益增长的精神文化需要。
第四条 国家新闻出版广电总局作为网络出版服务的行业主管部门，负责全国网络出版服务的前置审批和监督管理工作。工业和信息化部作为互联网行业主管部门，依据职责对全国网络出版服务实施相应的监督管理。
地方人民政府各级出版行政主管部门和各省级电信主管部门依据各自职责对本行政区域内网络出版服务及接入服务实施相应的监督管理工作并做好配合工作。
第五条 出版行政主管部门根据已经取得的违法嫌疑证据或者举报，对涉嫌违法从事网络出版服务的行为进行查处时，可以检查与涉嫌违法行为有关的物品和经营场所；对有证据证明是与违法行为有关的物品，可以查封或者扣押。
第六条 国家鼓励图书、音像、电子、报纸、期刊出版单位从事网络出版服务，加快与新媒体的融合发展。
国家鼓励组建网络出版服务行业协会，按照章程，在出版行政主管部门的指导下制定行业自律规范，倡导网络文明，传播健康有益内容，抵制不良有害内容。
第二章 网络出版服务许可
第七条 从事网络出版服务，必须依法经过出版行政主管部门批准，取得《网络出版服务许可证》。
第八条 图书、音像、电子、报纸、期刊出版单位从事网络出版服务，应当具备以下条件：
（一）有确定的从事网络出版业务的网站域名、智能终端应用程序等出版平台；
（二）有确定的网络出版服务范围；
（三）有从事网络出版服务所需的必要的技术设备，相关服务器和存储设备必须存放在中华人民共和国境内。
第九条 其他单位从事网络出版服务，除第八条所列条件外，还应当具备以下条件：
（一）有确定的、不与其他出版单位相重复的，从事网络出版服务主体的名称及章程；
（二）有符合国家规定的法定代表人和主要负责人，法定代表人必须是在境内长久居住的具有完全行为能力的中国公民，法定代表人和主要负责人至少1人应当具有中级以上出版专业技术人员职业资格；
（三）除法定代表人和主要负责人外，有适应网络出版服务范围需要的8名以上具有国家新闻出版广电总局认可的出版及相关专业技术职业资格的专职编辑出版人员，其中具有中级以上职业资格的人员不得少于3名；
（四）有从事网络出版服务所需的内容审校制度；
（五）有固定的工作场所；
（六）法律、行政法规和国家新闻出版广电总局规定的其他条件。
第十条 中外合资经营、中外合作经营和外资经营的单位不得从事网络出版服务。
网络出版服务单位与境内中外合资经营、中外合作经营、外资经营企业或境外组织及个人进行网络出版服务业务的项目合作，应当事前报国家新闻出版广电总局审批。
第十一条 申请从事网络出版服务，应当向所在地省、自治区、直辖市出版行政主管部门提出申请，经审核同意后，报国家新闻出版广电总局审批。国家新闻出版广电总局应当自受理申请之日起60日内，作出批准或者不予批准的决定。不批准的，应当说明理由。
第十二条 从事网络出版服务的申报材料，应该包括下列内容：
（一）《网络出版服务许可证申请表》；
（二）单位章程及资本来源性质证明；
（三）网络出版服务可行性分析报告，包括资金使用、产品规划、技术条件、设备配备、机构设置、人员配备、市场分析、风险评估、版权保护措施等；
（四）法定代表人和主要负责人的简历、住址、身份证明文件；
（五）编辑出版等相关专业技术人员的国家认可的职业资格证明和主要从业经历及培训证明；
（六）工作场所使用证明；
（七）网站域名注册证明、相关服务器存放在中华人民共和国境内的承诺。
本规定第八条所列单位从事网络出版服务的，仅提交前款（一）、（六）、（七）项规定的材料。
第十三条 设立网络出版服务单位的申请者应自收到批准决定之日起30日内办理注册登记手续：
（一）持批准文件到所在地省、自治区、直辖市出版行政主管部门领取并填写《网络出版服务许可登记表》；
（二）省、自治区、直辖市出版行政主管部门对《网络出版服务许可登记表》审核无误后，在10日内向申请者发放《网络出版服务许可证》；
（三）《网络出版服务许可登记表》一式三份，由申请者和省、自治区、直辖市出版行政主管部门各存一份，另一份由省、自治区、直辖市出版行政主管部门在15日内报送国家新闻出版广电总局备案。
第十四条 《网络出版服务许可证》有效期为5年。有效期届满，需继续从事网络出版服务活动的，应于有效期届满60日前按本规定第十一条的程序提出申请。出版行政主管部门应当在该许可有效期届满前作出是否准予延续的决定。批准的，换发《网络出版服务许可证》。
第十五条 网络出版服务经批准后，申请者应持批准文件、《网络出版服务许可证》到所在地省、自治区、直辖市电信主管部门办理相关手续。
第十六条 网络出版服务单位变更《网络出版服务许可证》许可登记事项、资本结构，合并或者分立，设立分支机构的，应依据本规定第十一条办理审批手续，并应持批准文件到所在地省、自治区、直辖市电信主管部门办理相关手续。
第十七条 网络出版服务单位中止网络出版服务的，应当向所在地省、自治区、直辖市出版行政主管部门备案，并说明理由和期限；网络出版服务单位中止网络出版服务不得超过180日。
网络出版服务单位终止网络出版服务的，应当自终止网络出版服务之日起30日内，向所在地省、自治区、直辖市出版行政主管部门办理注销手续后到省、自治区、直辖市电信主管部门办理相关手续。省、自治区、直辖市出版行政主管部门将相关信息报国家新闻出版广电总局备案。
第十八条 网络出版服务单位自登记之日起满180日未开展网络出版服务的，由原登记的出版行政主管部门注销登记，并报国家新闻出版广电总局备案。同时，通报相关省、自治区、直辖市电信主管部门。
因不可抗力或者其他正当理由发生上述所列情形的，网络出版服务单位可以向原登记的出版行政主管部门申请延期。
第十九条 网络出版服务单位应当在其网站首页上标明出版行政主管部门核发的《网络出版服务许可证》编号。
互联网相关服务提供者在为网络出版服务单位提供人工干预搜索排名、广告、推广等服务时，应当查验服务对象的《网络出版服务许可证》及业务范围。
第二十条 网络出版服务单位应当按照批准的业务范围从事网络出版服务，不得超出批准的业务范围从事网络出版服务。
第二十一条 网络出版服务单位不得转借、出租、出卖《网络出版服务许可证》或以任何形式转让网络出版服务许可。
网络出版服务单位允许其他网络信息服务提供者以其名义提供网络出版服务，属于前款所称禁止行为。
第二十二条 网络出版服务单位实行特殊管理股制度，具体办法由国家新闻出版广电总局另行制定。
第三章 网络出版服务管理
第二十三条 网络出版服务单位实行编辑责任制度，保障网络出版物内容合法。
网络出版服务单位实行出版物内容审核责任制度、责任编辑制度、责任校对制度等管理制度，保障网络出版物出版质量。
在网络上出版其他出版单位已在境内合法出版的作品且不改变原出版物内容的，须在网络出版物的相应页面显著标明原出版单位名称以及书号、刊号、网络出版物号或者网址信息。
第二十四条 网络出版物不得含有以下内容：
（一）反对宪法确定的基本原则的；
（二）危害国家统一、主权和领土完整的；
（三）泄露国家秘密、危害国家安全或者损害国家荣誉和利益的；
（四）煽动民族仇恨、民族歧视，破坏民族团结，或者侵害民族风俗、习惯的；
（五）宣扬邪教、迷信的；
（六）散布谣言，扰乱社会秩序，破坏社会稳定的；
（七）宣扬淫秽、色情、赌博、暴力或者教唆犯罪的；
（八）侮辱或者诽谤他人，侵害他人合法权益的；
（九）危害社会公德或者民族优秀文化传统的；
（十）有法律、行政法规和国家规定禁止的其他内容的。
第二十五条 为保护未成年人合法权益，网络出版物不得含有诱发未成年人模仿违反社会公德和违法犯罪行为的内容，不得含有恐怖、残酷等妨害未成年人身心健康的内容，不得含有披露未成年人个人隐私的内容。
第二十六条 网络出版服务单位出版涉及国家安全、社会安定等方面重大选题的内容，应当按照国家新闻出版广电总局有关重大选题备案管理的规定办理备案手续。未经备案的重大选题内容，不得出版。
第二十七条 网络游戏上网出版前，必须向所在地省、自治区、直辖市出版行政主管部门提出申请，经审核同意后，报国家新闻出版广电总局审批。
第二十八条 网络出版物的内容不真实或不公正，致使公民、法人或者其他组织合法权益受到侵害的，相关网络出版服务单位应当停止侵权，公开更正，消除影响，并依法承担其他民事责任。
第二十九条 国家对网络出版物实行标识管理，具体办法由国家新闻出版广电总局另行制定。
第三十条 网络出版物必须符合国家的有关规定和标准要求，保证出版物质量。
网络出版物使用语言文字，必须符合国家法律规定和有关标准规范。
第三十一条 网络出版服务单位应当按照国家有关规定或技术标准，配备应用必要的设备和系统，建立健全各项管理制度，保障信息安全、内容合法，并为出版行政主管部门依法履行监督管理职责提供技术支持。
第三十二条 网络出版服务单位在网络上提供境外出版物，应当取得著作权合法授权。其中，出版境外著作权人授权的网络游戏，须按本规定第二十七条办理审批手续。
第三十三条 网络出版服务单位发现其出版的网络出版物含有本规定第二十四条、第二十五条所列内容的，应当立即删除，保存有关记录，并向所在地县级以上出版行政主管部门报告。
第三十四条 网络出版服务单位应记录所出版作品的内容及其时间、网址或者域名，记录应当保存60日，并在国家有关部门依法查询时，予以提供。
第三十五条 网络出版服务单位须遵守国家统计规定，依法向出版行政主管部门报送统计资料。
第四章 监督管理
第三十六条 网络出版服务的监督管理实行属地管理原则。
各地出版行政主管部门应当加强对本行政区域内的网络出版服务单位及其出版活动的日常监督管理，履行下列职责：
（一）对网络出版服务单位进行行业监管，对网络出版服务单位违反本规定的情况进行查处并报告上级出版行政主管部门；
（二）对网络出版服务进行监管，对违反本规定的行为进行查处并报告上级出版行政主管部门；
（三）对网络出版物内容和质量进行监管，定期组织内容审读和质量检查，并将结果向上级出版行政主管部门报告；
（四）对网络出版从业人员进行管理，定期组织岗位、业务培训和考核；
（五）配合上级出版行政主管部门、协调相关部门、指导下级出版行政主管部门开展工作。
第三十七条 出版行政主管部门应当加强监管队伍和机构建设，采取必要的技术手段对网络出版服务进行管理。出版行政主管部门依法履行监督检查等执法职责时，网络出版服务单位应当予以配合，不得拒绝、阻挠。
各省、自治区、直辖市出版行政主管部门应当定期将本行政区域内的网络出版服务监督管理情况向国家新闻出版广电总局提交书面报告。
第三十八条 网络出版服务单位实行年度核验制度，年度核验每年进行一次。省、自治区、直辖市出版行政主管部门负责对本行政区域内的网络出版服务单位实施年度核验并将有关情况报国家新闻出版广电总局备案。年度核验内容包括网络出版服务单位的设立条件、登记项目、出版经营情况、出版质量、遵守法律规范、内部管理情况等。
第三十九条 年度核验按照以下程序进行：
（一）网络出版服务单位提交年度自检报告，内容包括：本年度政策法律执行情况，奖惩情况，网站出版、管理、运营绩效情况，网络出版物目录，对年度核验期内的违法违规行为的整改情况，编辑出版人员培训管理情况等；并填写由国家新闻出版广电总局统一印制的《网络出版服务年度核验登记表》，与年度自检报告一并报所在地省、自治区、直辖市出版行政主管部门；
（二）省、自治区、直辖市出版行政主管部门对本行政区域内的网络出版服务单位的设立条件、登记项目、开展业务及执行法规等情况进行全面审核，并在收到网络出版服务单位的年度自检报告和《网络出版服务年度核验登记表》等年度核验材料的45日内完成全面审核查验工作。对符合年度核验要求的网络出版服务单位予以登记，并在其《网络出版服务许可证》上加盖年度核验章；
（三）省、自治区、直辖市出版行政主管部门应于完成全面审核查验工作的15日内将年度核验情况及有关书面材料报国家新闻出版广电总局备案。
第四十条 有下列情形之一的，暂缓年度核验：
（一）正在停业整顿的；
（二）违反出版法规规章，应予处罚的；
（三）未按要求执行出版行政主管部门相关管理规定的；
（四）内部管理混乱，无正当理由未开展实质性网络出版服务活动的；
（五）存在侵犯著作权等其他违法嫌疑需要进一步核查的。
暂缓年度核验的期限由省、自治区、直辖市出版行政主管部门确定，报国家新闻出版广电总局备案，最长不得超过180日。暂缓年度核验期间，须停止网络出版服务。
暂缓核验期满，按本规定重新办理年度核验手续。
第四十一条 已经不具备本规定第八条、第九条规定条件的，责令限期改正；逾期仍未改正的，不予通过年度核验，由国家新闻出版广电总局撤销《网络出版服务许可证》，所在地省、自治区、直辖市出版行政主管部门注销登记，并通知当地电信主管部门依法处理。
第四十二条 省、自治区、直辖市出版行政主管部门可根据实际情况，对本行政区域内的年度核验事项进行调整，相关情况报国家新闻出版广电总局备案。
第四十三条 省、自治区、直辖市出版行政主管部门可以向社会公布年度核验结果。
第四十四条 从事网络出版服务的编辑出版等相关专业技术人员及其负责人应当符合国家关于编辑出版等相关专业技术人员职业资格管理的有关规定。
网络出版服务单位的法定代表人或主要负责人应按照有关规定参加出版行政主管部门组织的岗位培训，并取得国家新闻出版广电总局统一印制的《岗位培训合格证书》。未按规定参加岗位培训或培训后未取得《岗位培训合格证书》的，不得继续担任法定代表人或主要负责人。
第五章 保障与奖励
第四十五条 国家制定有关政策，保障、促进网络出版服务业的发展与繁荣。鼓励宣传科学真理、传播先进文化、倡导科学精神、塑造美好心灵、弘扬社会正气等有助于形成先进网络文化的网络出版服务，推动健康文化、优秀文化产品的数字化、网络化传播。
网络出版服务单位依法从事网络出版服务，任何组织和个人不得干扰、阻止和破坏。第四十六条 国家支持、鼓励下列优秀的、重点的网络出版物的出版：
（一）对阐述、传播宪法确定的基本原则有重大作用的；
（二）对弘扬社会主义核心价值观，进行爱国主义、集体主义、社会主义和民族团结教育以及弘扬社会公德、职业道德、家庭美德、个人品德有重要意义的；
（三）对弘扬民族优秀文化，促进国际文化交流有重大作用的；
（四）具有自主知识产权和优秀文化内涵的；
（五）对推进文化创新，及时反映国内外新的科学文化成果有重大贡献的；
（六）对促进公共文化服务有重大作用的；
（七）专门以未成年人为对象、内容健康的或者其他有利于未成年人健康成长的；
（八）其他具有重要思想价值、科学价值或者文化艺术价值的。
第四十七条 对为发展、繁荣网络出版服务业作出重要贡献的单位和个人，按照国家有关规定给予奖励。
第四十八条 国家保护网络出版物著作权人的合法权益。网络出版服务单位应当遵守《中华人民共和国著作权法》、《信息网络传播权保护条例》、《计算机软件保护条例》等著作权法律法规。
第四十九条 对非法干扰、阻止和破坏网络出版物出版的行为，出版行政主管部门及其他有关部门，应当及时采取措施，予以制止。
第六章 法律责任
第五十条 网络出版服务单位违反本规定的，出版行政主管部门可以采取下列行政措施：
（一）下达警示通知书；
（二）通报批评、责令改正；
（三）责令公开检讨；
（四）责令删除违法内容。
警示通知书由国家新闻出版广电总局制定统一格式，由出版行政主管部门下达给相关网络出版服务单位。
本条所列的行政措施可以并用。
第五十一条 未经批准，擅自从事网络出版服务，或者擅自上网出版网络游戏（含境外著作权人授权的网络游戏），根据《出版管理条例》第六十一条、《互联网信息服务管理办法》第十九条的规定，由出版行政主管部门、工商行政管理部门依照法定职权予以取缔，并由所在地省级电信主管部门依据有关部门的通知，按照《互联网信息服务管理办法》第十九条的规定给予责令关闭网站等处罚；已经触犯刑法的，依法追究刑事责任；尚不够刑事处罚的，删除全部相关网络出版物，没收违法所得和从事违法出版活动的主要设备、专用工具，违法经营额1万元以上的，并处违法经营额5倍以上10倍以下的罚款；违法经营额不足1万元的，可以处5万元以下的罚款；侵犯他人合法权益的，依法承担民事责任。
第五十二条 出版、传播含有本规定第二十四条、第二十五条禁止内容的网络出版物的，根据《出版管理条例》第六十二条、《互联网信息服务管理办法》第二十条的规定，由出版行政主管部门责令删除相关内容并限期改正，没收违法所得，违法经营额1万元以上的，并处违法经营额5倍以上10倍以下罚款；违法经营额不足1万元的，可以处5万元以下罚款；情节严重的，责令限期停业整顿或者由国家新闻出版广电总局吊销《网络出版服务许可证》，由电信主管部门依据出版行政主管部门的通知吊销其电信业务经营许可或者责令关闭网站；构成犯罪的，依法追究刑事责任。
为从事本条第一款行为的网络出版服务单位提供人工干预搜索排名、广告、推广等相关服务的，由出版行政主管部门责令其停止提供相关服务。
第五十三条 违反本规定第二十一条的，根据《出版管理条例》第六十六条的规定，由出版行政主管部门责令停止违法行为，给予警告，没收违法所得，违法经营额1万元以上的，并处违法经营额5倍以上10倍以下的罚款；违法经营额不足1万元的，可以处5万元以下的罚款；情节严重的，责令限期停业整顿或者由国家新闻出版广电总局吊销《网络出版服务许可证》。
第五十四条 有下列行为之一的，根据《出版管理条例》第六十七条的规定，由出版行政主管部门责令改正，给予警告；情节严重的，责令限期停业整顿或者由国家新闻出版广电总局吊销《网络出版服务许可证》：
（一）网络出版服务单位变更《网络出版服务许可证》登记事项、资本结构，超出批准的服务范围从事网络出版服务，合并或者分立，设立分支机构，未依据本规定办理审批手续的；
（二）网络出版服务单位未按规定出版涉及重大选题出版物的；
（三）网络出版服务单位擅自中止网络出版服务超过180日的；
（四）网络出版物质量不符合有关规定和标准的。
第五十五条 违反本规定第三十四条的，根据《互联网信息服务管理办法》第二十一条的规定，由省级电信主管部门责令改正；情节严重的，责令停业整顿或者暂时关闭网站。
第五十六条 网络出版服务单位未依法向出版行政主管部门报送统计资料的，依据《新闻出版统计管理办法》处罚。
第五十七条 网络出版服务单位违反本规定第二章规定，以欺骗或者贿赂等不正当手段取得许可的，由国家新闻出版广电总局撤销其相应许可。
第五十八条 有下列行为之一的，由出版行政主管部门责令改正，予以警告，并处3万元以下罚款：
（一）违反本规定第十条，擅自与境内外中外合资经营、中外合作经营和外资经营的企业进行涉及网络出版服务业务的合作的；
（二）违反本规定第十九条，未标明有关许可信息或者未核验有关网站的《网络出版服务许可证》的；
（三）违反本规定第二十三条，未按规定实行编辑责任制度等管理制度的；
（四）违反本规定第三十一条，未按规定或标准配备应用有关系统、设备或未健全有关管理制度的；
（五）未按本规定要求参加年度核验的；
（六）违反本规定第四十四条，网络出版服务单位的法定代表人或主要负责人未取得《岗位培训合格证书》的；
（七）违反出版行政主管部门关于网络出版其他管理规定的。
第五十九条 网络出版服务单位违反本规定被处以吊销许可证行政处罚的，其法定代表人或者主要负责人自许可证被吊销之日起10年内不得担任网络出版服务单位的法定代表人或者主要负责人。
从事网络出版服务的编辑出版等相关专业技术人员及其负责人违反本规定，情节严重的，由原发证机关吊销其资格证书。
第七章 附则
第六十条 本规定所称出版物内容审核责任制度、责任编辑制度、责任校对制度等管理制度，参照《图书质量保障体系》的有关规定执行。
第六十一条 本规定自2016年3月10日起施行。原国家新闻出版总署、信息产业部2002年6月27日颁布的《互联网出版管理暂行规定》同时废止。
