Implementing Rules for the Management of Internet News Information Service Licences

Article 1: In order to further raise the standardization and scientization levels of Internet news information service licence management, and stimulate the healthy and orderly development of Internet news information services, on the basis of the “Administrative Licensing Law of the People’s Republic of China” and the “Internet News Information Service Management Regulations” (hereafter simply named “Regulations”), these Implementing Rules are formulated.

Article 2: These Implementing Rules apply to national and provincial, autonomous region and municipal Internet information offices’ implementation of Internet news information service licensing.

Article 3: For the provision of Internet news information services to the public through Internet sites, application software, forums, blogs, microblogs, public accounts, instant messaging tools, online streaming and other such forms, an Internet news information service licence shall be obtained, it is prohibited to carry out Internet news information service activities without a licence or in excess of a licence’s scope.

Article 4: Internet news information services include Internet news information gathering and dissemination services, reprinting services and dissemination platform services.

Specifically, gathering and dissemination services refers to services of collecting, editing, producing and disseminating news information; reprinting services refers to services of selecting, editing and disseminating news information already published by other subjects; dissemination platform services refers to services of providing platforms for users to disseminate news information services.

Those obtaining permission to provide Internet news information gathering and dissemination services may at the same time provide Internet news information reprinting services. Those obtaining permission to provide Internet news information dissemination platform services and planning to provide gathering and dissemination services or reprinting services at the same time shall obtain an Internet news information gathering and dissemination, or reprinting service licence according to the Law.

Article 5: Those applying for an Internet news information service licence shall meet the following conditions:

(1) being a legal person lawfully established within the territory of the People’s Republic of China

(2) the main responsible person and editor-in-chief are Chinese citizens;

(3) having specialist news editing personnel, content inspection personnel and technological protection personnel suited to the service;

(4) having complete Internet news information service management structures;

(5) having complete information security management structures and secure and controllable technological protection measures;

(6) having the premises, facilities and funding suited to the service.

Specifically, those applying for an Internet news information gathering and dissemination licence shall be news work units (including work units share-controlled by news work units) or work units controlled by news and propaganda departments. News work units refers to newspaper or periodical publishers, radio stations, television stations, news agencies and news film studios established lawfully and with permission of relevant state departments. Share-controlled means a proportion of over 50% of the capital contribution value, or the proportion of stock held in the total value of corporate capital, or the total share value, or, where even though the proportion in capital contribution value or held stock is less than 50%, the capital contribution value or held stock is sufficient to engender major influence on corporate decision-making. News and propaganda departments include all levels’ propaganda departments, cybersecurity and informatization departments, radio and television departments, etc.

No organization may establish Sino-foreign contractual or collaborative joint ventures or foreign-managed Internet news information service work units.

Article 6: Those applying for an Internet news information service licence on the basis of Article 10 of the “Regulations” shall submit the following application materials:

(1) Proof that the main responsible persons and editor-in-chief are Chinese citizens. This includes copies of the identity documents of main responsible persons and editor-in-chief;

(2) A review of the qualification of specialist news editing personnel, content inspection personnel and technical protection personnel. This includes the basic situation of relevant personnel, as well as a journalist card uniformly issued by the State Administration of Press, Publications, Radio, Film and Television, proof of employment in news work units, relevant training certificates and other such materials, concrete personnel quantities shall be suited to the provided services;

(3) Management structures for Internet news information services. This includes website editor-in-chief structures, personnel training and assessment structures, etc.;

(4) Information security management structures and technological protection measures. This includes information dissemination inspection structures, public information inspection patrol structures, emergency response structures, user personal information protection structures, etc.,. as well as corresponding technological protection measures.

(5) An Internet news information service security assessment report. A security assessment report by relevant departments or bodies with relevant qualifications concerning the information security management structures and technological protection measures of the applicant;

(6) Proof of legal person status, premises and finances. This includes copies of an enterprise’s business licence, undertaking work units’ legal person certificates, property right certificates of service premises, rental contracts and other such materials;

(7) An Internet news information service licence application letter. This includes an application form as well as an explanation of the intended concrete service provision, service plans, etc.

Article 7: Those applying for an Internet news information gathering and dissemination service licence shall, apart from submitting the application materials provided in Article 6 of these Implementing Rules, also submit proof that the work unit in question or the party of which it controls the shares is a news work unit, or proof that their controlling work unit is a news or propaganda department together with an opinion of the said controlling work unit. Specifically, news work unit proof includes a “Newspaper Publishing Licence”, a “Radio and Television Broadcasting Body Licence”, a “Periodical Publishing Licence” (those holding a “Periodical Publishing Licence” shall have “news information” services as mentioned in Article 2 of the “Regulations” as their main business activity) etc.; the content of the controlling work unit’s opinion mainly includes an explanation of the relationship between the applicant and the said controlling work unit, an opinion assessing whether or not the applicant meets licensing conditions, as well as the stamp of the work unit.

Those applying for an Internet news information dissemination platform service shall, apart from submitting the application materials provided in Article 6 of these Implementing Rules, also submit the platform’s account user management regulations and structures, user agreement templates, complaints reporting and handling mechanisms, etc.

Where the applicant is an enterprise legal person, it shall, apart from submitting the application materials provided in Article 6 of these Implementing Rules, also provide the following materials concerning shareholding rights:

(1) A shareholding structure map. This includes the names of shareholders, the shareholding proportions, fund-raising method, fund-raising times and other such information. Where shareholders are not natural person subjects, they must progressively be traced back to natural persons, undertaking work units as well as exclusively State-owned enterprises, and the situation of actual controlling persons must be explained. The shareholding structure map must carry the work unit stamp, and be signed by the legal representative;

(2) Proof of shareholders. Where shareholders are natural persons, their identity proof materials must be provided; where shareholders are non-natural person subject, the subject’s name, organization method, statutory representative and other such materials must be provided;

(3) The company’s articles of association. This includes the company’s articles of association as well as previous revision decisions;

(4) A letter of commitment of no foreign capital. A written commitment by the applicant that all shareholders in the shareholding structure map are not made up of foreign-invested components;

(5) Opinion letters by specialist bodies. Written proof by a law firm or accounting firm that the abovementioned shareholding materials are accurate, correct and complete, including financial audit reports, legal opinion documents and other such materials.

Article 8: On the basis of Article 7 of the “Regulations” Internet news information service work units’ cooperations with domestic or foreign Sino-foreign cooperative or collaborative joint ventures of enterprises run by foreign capital to engage in business activities involving Internet news information services, shall be reported to the State Internet Information Office for security assessment, and the following materials shall be submitted:

(1) The circumstances of the intended collaborating enterprise. This includes an introduction of the basic circumstances of the said enterprises, its business licence and other such proof of legal person status;

(2) The circumstances of the intended collaborative activities. This includes a letter of intent of collaboration, collaborative development plans, collaborate feasibility analysis reports and other such materials.

Where controlling work units are news and propaganda work units, an opinion from the said controlling work unit on the matter in question shall also be submitted.

Where collaboration between Internet news information service work units domestic or foreign Sino-foreign cooperative or collaborative joint ventures of enterprises run by foreign capital to engage in business activities involving Internet news information services may lead to Internet news information service work units no longer conforming to licensing conditions, it will not pass security assessment.

Article 9: National and provincial, autonomous region and municipal Internet information offices shall, after receiving application materials, handle the matter on the basis of circumstances and according to the law:

(1) Where application materials are complete and conform to requirements, acceptance is granted;

(2) Where application materials are not complete or do not conform to requirements, the applicant is notified once on the spot or within five working days about content that should be changed or supplemented;

(3) Where an Internet news information service licence is not required according to the law, acceptance is not granted, the applicant is notified immediately, and the application materials are returned;

(4) Where application items do not fall into the scope of [administrative power] powers, a decision of non-acceptance shall be timely made, and the applicant is notified to apply with the relevant administrative bodies.

Article 10: After lawful acceptance, national, provincial, autonomous region and municipal Internet information offices will, according to the provisions of Article 5, Article 6 and Article 7 of these Implementing Rules, examine and verify the application materials, including whether the applicant conforms to licensing conditions, and whether the materials are accurate.

During the process of examination and verification national, provincial, autonomous region and municipal Internet information offices may, on the basis of actual circumstances, interview the applicant’s main responsible persons and editor-in-chief, go to the filed website location, actual business location, location of website servers and other such relevant localities to conduct on-the-spot inspections.

Article 11: National and provincial, autonomous region and municipal Internet information offices shall, on the basis of Article 42 of the “Administrative Licensing Law”, make a decision of approval or non-approval according to the law and within the stipulated time period. Those approved are issued with an “Internet News Information Service Licence”.

Provincial, autonomous region and municipal Internet information offices shall, within seven working days of making an approval decision, report the relevant circumstances to the State Internet Information Office (CAC).

Article 12: On the basis of Article 17 of the “Regulations”, Internet news information service providers modifying the following matters shall, within seven working days of the modification, carry out modification formalities with the original licensing body:

(1) Modification of a company’s articles of association, service premises, website name, access service provider and other such matters;

(2) Modification of editor-in-chief, main responsible persons, shareholding structure, website address and other such affairs, or conducting public offerings, mergers or separations;

Specifically, where the Modification of editor-in-chief, main responsible persons, shareholding structure, website address and other such affairs, or conducting public offerings, mergers or separations leads to a situation where Internet news information service providers no longer are in conformity with licensing conditions, punishment will be imposed according to Article 23 of the “Regulations”.

Internet news information service providers adding new service categories shall obtain corresponding licences according to Article 6 of the “Regulations”.

Article 13: Internet news information service providers applying to carry out modification formalities related to Article 12 of these Implementing Rules, shall submit the following materials to the original licensing body:

(1) A modification application letter. This includes the matters of which modification is applied, the reason for modification as well as other issues that require explanation, it also carries the stamp of the work unit;

(2) Materials on the modified matters. Submit an explanation and proof materials for concrete modified matters, including the basic situation of changed personnel, their qualification letters, proof of employment or the post-modification business licence, corporate articles of association, rental contracts, etc., this also carries the stamp of the work unit.

Those changing shareholding structures shall, according to the provisions of Article 7 of these Implementing Rules, provide corresponding shareholding materials. Where the matter involves a public offering, concrete implementation plans for the public offering, a plan for listing on the “New Three Board” as well as matters concerning strategic investment bodies shall also be provided.

Where modifications affect matters indicated on the licence, the original licence shall be submitted.

Article 14: The period of validity of the “Internet News Information Service Licence” is three years. Where the period of validity ends, and it is desired to continue to engage in Internet news information service activities, application formalities should be carried out with the original issuing body, according to the licensing procedure, thirty days before the end of the period of validity, the following materials shall also be submitted:

(1) A licensing extension application letter. This includes an explanation of the business circumstances hitherto, an explanation of matters relevant to the conditions in Article 5 of these Implementing Rules, as well as other matters that require explanation, it also carries the stamp of the work unit;

(2) The original licence.

Where the controlling work unit is a press or propaganda department, an opinion from the said controlling department shall also be submitted.

Where the period of validity of the “Internet News Information Service Licence” expires, and extension formalities have not been carried out according to the law, it is prohibited to continue to provide Internet news information services, and the original licence will become invalid.

Article 15: On the basis of Article 9 of the “Administrative Licensing Law”, the Internet news information service licence may not be transferred. Internet news information service providers may not transfer licences without authorization for reasons such as business restructuring, merger, separation, etc.

Article 16: Where Internet news information service providers terminate services, they shall carry out cancellation formalities with the original licencing body within 30 days of terminating services, and submit the following materials:

(1) A termination application letter. This includes the reason for termination and other issues that require explanation, and carries the stamp of the work unit.

(2) The original licence.

Article 17: According to Article 19 of the “Regulations”, national and local Internet information offices establish spot checks, assessments and other such supervision and management structures integrating daily inspections and periodical inspections, to strengthen supervision and management over Internet news information service activities, relevant work units and individuals shall cooperate.

Supervision inspection results are made public according to the law, social supervision will be accepted.

Article 18: These Implementing Rules take effect simultaneously with the “Regulations”.

互联网新闻信息服务许可管理实施细则
第一条 为进一步提高互联网新闻信息服务许可管理规范化、科学化水平，促进互联网新闻信息服务健康有序发展，根据《中华人民共和国行政许可法》《互联网新闻信息服务管理规定》（以下简称《规定》），制定本细则。
第二条 国家和省、自治区、直辖市互联网信息办公室实施互联网新闻信息服务许可，适用本细则。
第三条 通过互联网站、应用程序、论坛、博客、微博客、公众账号、即时通信工具、网络直播等形式向社会公众提供互联网新闻信息服务，应当取得互联网新闻信息服务许可，禁止未经许可或超越许可范围开展互联网新闻信息服务活动。
第四条 互联网新闻信息服务，包括互联网新闻信息采编发布服务、转载服务、传播平台服务。
其中，采编发布服务，是指对新闻信息进行采集、编辑、制作并发布的服务；转载服务，是指选择、编辑并发布其他主体已发布新闻信息的服务；传播平台服务，是指为用户传播新闻信息提供平台的服务。
获准提供互联网新闻信息采编发布服务的，可以同时提供互联网新闻信息转载服务。获准提供互联网新闻信息传播平台服务，拟同时提供采编发布服务、转载服务的，应当依法取得互联网新闻信息采编发布、转载服务许可。
第五条 申请互联网新闻信息服务许可的，应当具备下列许可条件：
（一）在中华人民共和国境内依法设立的法人；
（二）主要负责人、总编辑是中国公民；
（三）有与服务相适应的专职新闻编辑人员、内容审核人员和技术保障人员；
（四）有健全的互联网新闻信息服务管理制度；
（五）有健全的信息安全管理制度和安全可控的技术保障措施；
（六）有与服务相适应的场所、设施和资金。
其中，申请互联网新闻信息采编发布服务许可的，应当是新闻单位（含新闻单位控股的单位）或新闻宣传部门主管的单位。新闻单位是指经国家有关部门依法批准设立的报刊社、广播电台、电视台、通讯社和新闻电影制片厂。控股是指出资额、持有股份占企业资本总额或股本总额50%以上，或出资额、持有股份的比例虽然不足50%，但依其出资额或持有股份已足以对企业决议产生重大影响。新闻宣传部门包括各级宣传部门、网信部门、广电部门等。
任何组织不得设立中外合资经营、中外合作经营和外资经营的互联网新闻信息服务单位。
第六条 根据《规定》第十条，申请互联网新闻信息服务许可的，应当提交下列申请材料：
（一）主要负责人、总编辑为中国公民的证明。包括主要负责人、总编辑的身份证复印件等；
（二）专职新闻编辑人员、内容审核人员和技术保障人员的资质情况。包括相关人员基本情况，以及国家新闻出版广电总局统一颁发的新闻记者证、新闻单位从业证明、相关培训考核证明等材料，具体人员数量应当与所提供的服务相适应；
（三）互联网新闻信息服务管理制度。包括网站总编辑制度、从业人员教育培训和考核制度等；
（四）信息安全管理制度和技术保障措施。包括信息发布审核制度、公共信息巡查制度、应急处置制度、用户个人信息保护制度等，以及相关技术保障措施的情况；
（五）互联网新闻信息服务安全评估报告。由有关部门或具有相关资质的机构出具的对于申请者信息安全管理制度和技术保障措施的安全评估报告；
（六）法人资格、场所、资金的证明。包括企业营业执照、事业单位法人证书、服务场所产权证书、租赁合同等材料复印件；
（七）互联网新闻信息服务许可申请书。包括申请表，以及对拟提供具体服务形式、服务方案的说明等。
第七条 申请互联网新闻信息采编发布服务许可的，除应当提交本细则第六条规定的申请材料外，还应当提交该单位或其控股方为新闻单位的证明，或其主管单位为新闻宣传部门的证明及该主管单位的意见。其中，新闻单位证明包括《报纸出版许可证》、《广播电视播出机构许可证》、《期刊出版许可证》（持有《期刊出版许可证》的，应当以提供《规定》第二条所称“新闻信息”服务为主营业务）等；主管单位意见内容主要包括，说明申请者与该主管单位的关系、就申请者是否符合许可条件提出评估意见并加盖单位公章等。
申请互联网新闻信息传播平台服务许可的，除应当提交本细则第六条规定的申请材料外，还应当提交平台账号用户管理规章制度、用户协议范本、投诉举报处理机制等。
申请者为企业法人的，除应当提交本细则第六条规定的申请材料外，还应当提供下列股权相关材料：
（一）股权结构图。包括股东名称、股权比例、出资方式、出资时间等信息。股东为非自然人主体的，须逐级追溯到自然人、事业单位以及国有独资公司, 并就实际控制人情况作出说明。股权结构图需加盖单位公章，并由法定代表人签字；
（二）股东证明材料。股东为自然人的，须提供身份证明材料；股东为非自然人主体的，须提供该主体的名称、组织形式、法定代表人等材料；
（三）公司章程。包括公司章程及历次修改决议；
（四）无外资承诺书。申请者对股权结构图中所有股东均不含外资成分作出的书面承诺；
（五）专业机构意见书。律师事务所或会计师事务所就上述股权材料的真实性、准确性、完整性出具的书面证明，包括验资报告、法律意见书等材料。
第八条 根据《规定》第七条，互联网新闻信息服务单位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互联网新闻信息服务业务的合作，应当报国家互联网信息办公室进行安全评估，并提交以下材料：
（一）拟合作企业的情况。包括该企业基本情况介绍、营业执照等法人资格证明；
（二）拟合作业务的情况。包括合作意向书、合作发展规划、合作可行性分析报告等材料；
主管单位为新闻宣传部门的，还应当提交该主管单位就该项业务合作的意见。
互联网新闻信息服务单位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互联网新闻信息服务业务的合作，可能导致互联网新闻信息服务单位不再符合许可条件的，不予通过安全评估。
第九条 国家和省、自治区、直辖市互联网信息办公室收到申请材料后，应当根据情况依法作出处理：
（一）申请材料齐全、符合要求的，予以受理；
（二）申请材料不齐全、不符合要求的，当场或五个工作日内一次性告知申请者应予更正或补充的内容；
（三）对依法不需要取得互联网新闻信息服务许可的，不予受理，并即时告知申请者，退回申请材料；
（四）对申请事项不属于职权范围的，应当即时作出不予受理的决定，并告知申请者向有关行政机关申请。
第十条 依法受理后，国家和省、自治区、直辖市互联网信息办公室按照本细则第五条、第六条、第七条的规定，对申请材料进行审核，包括申请者是否符合许可条件、材料是否真实等。
审核过程中，国家和省、自治区、直辖市互联网信息办公室可依据实际情况，约见申请者主要负责人、总编辑，到网站备案地、实际经营地、网站服务器所在地等其他相关场所进行实地检查。
第十一条 国家和省、自治区、直辖市互联网信息办公室应当依据《行政许可法》第四十二条，在规定期限内依法作出批准或不予批准的决定。批准的，核发《互联网新闻信息服务许可证》。
省、自治区、直辖市互联网信息办公室应当自作出批准决定之日起七个工作日内，向国家互联网信息办公室报告有关情况。
第十二条 根据《规定》第十七条，互联网新闻信息服务提供者变更以下事项，应当自变更之日起七个工作日内，向原许可机关申请办理变更手续：
（一）变更公司章程、服务场所、网站名称、接入服务提供者等事项；
（二）变更总编辑、主要负责人、股权结构、互联网地址等事项，或者进行上市、合并、分立；
其中，变更总编辑、主要负责人、股权结构、互联网地址等事项，或者进行上市、合并、分立，导致互联网新闻信息服务提供者不再符合许可条件的，根据《规定》第二十三条予以处罚。
互联网新闻信息服务提供者新增服务类别，应当根据《规定》第六条，依法取得相应的许可。
第十三条 互联网新闻信息服务提供者申请办理本细则第十二条相关变更手续，应当向原许可机关提交以下材料：
（一）变更申请书。包括申请变更事项、变更原因以及其他需要说明的问题，并加盖单位公章；
（二）变更事项材料。提交具体变更事项的说明、证明材料，包括变更人员基本情况、资格证书、任免证明，或者变更后的营业执照、公司章程、租赁合同等，并加盖单位公章。
变更股权结构的，应当按照本细则第七条规定，提供相关股权材料。涉及上市的，还应当提供有关上市活动具体实施方案、新三板挂牌方案以及战略投资机构有关情况等材料。
涉及许可证所列事项变更的，应当提交许可证原件。
第十四条 《互联网新闻信息服务许可证》有效期为三年。有效期届满，需继续从事互联网新闻信息服务活动的，应当于有效期届满三十日前，按照许可程序，向原许可机关申请续办，并提交以下材料：
（一）许可续办申请书。包括前期从业情况说明、涉及本细则第五条许可条件相关情况的说明，以及其他需要说明的问题，并加盖单位公章；
（二）许可证原件。
主管单位为新闻宣传部门的，还应当提交该主管单位的意见。
《互联网新闻信息服务许可证》有效期届满，未依法申请续办的，不得继续提供互联网新闻信息服务，原许可证作废。
第十五条 根据《行政许可法》第九条，互联网新闻信息服务许可不得转让。互联网新闻信息服务提供者不得因业务调整、合并、分立等原因擅自转让许可。
第十六条 互联网新闻信息服务提供者终止服务的，应当自终止服务之日起三十日内向原许可机关办理注销手续，并提交以下材料：
（一）注销申请书。包括注销原因以及其他需要说明的问题，并加盖单位公章；
（二）许可证原件。
第十七条 根据《规定》第十九条，国家和地方互联网信息办公室建立抽查、考核等日常检查和定期检查相结合的监督管理制度，加强对互联网新闻信息服务活动的监督检查，有关单位、个人应当予以配合。
监督检查结果，依法向社会公开，接受社会监督。
第十八条 本细则与《规定》同步施行。