The National Copyright Administration of China says it sent orders to more than 20 video websites to stop their illegal broadcasting of the unauthorized Olympic torch relay videos.
In a press conference jointly held by NCAC, MIIT and SARFT, Xu Chao, vice director of the Copyright Division of NCAC, said that China will impose strict punishments on Internet and mobile platforms that broadcast events and activities related to the Olympic Games without authorization. If any website is found broadcasting Olympic events and activities without authorization, the website will receive a maximum fine of CNY100,000 in administrative penalties. If the circumstance is serious, it will be investigated for criminal liability.
Since the beginning of the Olympic torch relay on March 24, 2008, the International Olympic Committee, NCAC and the relative rights owners have been monitoring the illegal broadcast of some Chinese websites. At the end of May 2008, the relative rights owners sent lawyer letters to more than 20 infringing websites. Yet some websites did not delete the illegal videos. Therefore, at the request of the rights owners, NCAC sent administrative orders to these websites to stop their illegal broadcasting of the unauthorized Olympic torch relay videos.
According to the relative regulation, the maximum fine for broadcasting Olympic events can be CNY100,000. In addition, the departments in charge will establish a joint law-enforcement office during the Olympic Games to implement a 24-hour supervision over the broadcast activities of the media.