Provisional Regulations for the Administration of Internet Culture was promulgated on 11 Feb. 2011, and amended in 2017. The latest revision entered into force on 15 Dec. 2017.

There are 34 articles in total. The Regulations aim to regulate the activities that provide Internet cultural products and services (“Internet cultural activities”). Key points of the Regulations include:

1. There are two categories of Internet cultural products. One refers to music, television series, movies, cartoons, manga, and online games that are specially produced for the Internet. The other is to copy and distribute common cultural works to the Internet.
2. The Ministry of Culture (now the Ministry of Culture and Tourism) is responsible for the regulation over the area.
3. Where Internet-based information service providers engaging in Internet cultural activities (“service provider”) conduct for-profit business in the area, they shall obtain the Internet culture business licenses issued by the regulatory authorities. Where they engage in not-for-profit activities, they shall file with the regulatory authority for record.
4. Only service providers who are qualified to engage in for-profit activities are allowed to import overseas Internet cultural products, and the imported products need to undergo the content review by the regulatory authorities.