SAPPRFT Reiterates Provisions concerning the Management of Online Foreign Television Dramas

A few days ago, SAPPRFT issued a Notice reiterating provisions concerning the management of online foreign television dramas, which demanded that for foreign television dramas used for dissemination on the Internet and other such information networks, a “Public Film Screening Permit” and a “Television Drama Distribution Permit” must be obtained according to the law. Foreign television dramas for which no “Public Film Screening Permit” or “Television Drama Distribution Permit” has been obtained, may not be disseminated online without exception.

The “Notice” points out that, in order to make online culture develop and flourish, at the same time as inheriting and carrying forward China’s excellent cultural traditions, [we must] vigorously absorb the world’s advanced cultural achievements, and encourage Internet audiovisual programme service websites meeting conditions to import and distribute appropriate amounts of foreign television dramas with healthy content, good production levels, which carry forward the true, the good and the beautiful, and satisfy the popular masses’ daily increasing spiritual cultural needs.

The “Notice” clarifies that SAPPRFT has formulated general plans for the import of foreign television dramas to be used for dissemination on the information network. After websites have obtained “Information Network Audiovisual Distribution Permit” issued by SAPPRFT according to the law, and where the permit contains the item “Second category, Internet audiovisual programme services; fifth clause: film, television and cartoon-type programme collection and broadcast services, they are permitted to import foreign television dramas for special use in online dissemination, after having obtained a “Television Drama Distribution Permit” (Special Use for Online Dissemination) through examination and verification by a provincial-level or higher administrative press, publications, radio, film and television department, may broadcast [the dramas] on the website. The content and style of the foreign television dramas imported by all websites shall be healthy and upward, conform to the relevant requirements of the “Foreign Television Programme Import and Broadcast Management Regulations” (SARFT Decree No.42), and information network dissemination rights must be obtained from the copyright holder.

The “Notice” stresses that Internet audiovisual programme service websites shall register information concerning the foreign television dramas being disseminated on their websites to the administrative press, publications, radio, film and television body before 31 March 2015. From 1 April 2015, foreign television dramas that have not been registered may not be distributed online.

 

国家新闻出版广电总局
重申网上境外影视剧管理的有关规定

日前，国家新闻出版广电总局下发通知，重申网上境外影视剧管理的有关规定，要求用于互联网等信息网络传播的境外影视剧，必须依法取得《电影片公映许可证》或《电视剧发行许可证》。未取得《电影片公映许可证》或《电视剧发行许可证》的境外影视剧一律不得上网播放。
《通知》指出，为发展繁荣网络文化，在继承和弘扬中华优秀文化传统的同时，积极吸收世界优秀文化成果，鼓励符合条件的互联网视听节目服务网站适量引进播出内容健康、制作精良、弘扬真善美的境外影视剧，满足人民群众日益增长的精神文化需求。
《通知》明确，国家新闻出版广电总局制定用于信息网络传播的引进境外影视剧的总体规划。依法取得国家新闻出版广电总局颁发的《信息网络传播视听节目许可证》，且许可项目含有“第二类互联网视听节目服务第五项：电影、电视剧、动画片类视听节目的汇集、播出业务”的网站，可以引进专门用于信息网络传播的境外影视剧，经省级以上新闻出版广电行政部门审核并取得《电视剧发行许可证》（专用于信息网络传播）后，在本网站播出。各网站引进境外影视剧的内容、格调应当健康向上，符合《境外电视节目引进、播出管理规定》（广电总局令第42号）有关要求，并取得著作权人授予的信息网络传播权。
《通知》强调，互联网视听节目服务网站应将本网站在播的境外影视剧相关信息，于2015年3月31日前按规定报新闻出版广电行政部门登记。自2015年4月1日起，未经登记的境外影视剧不得上网播放。