Key Focus
- The Cyberspace Administration of China (“CAC”) has publicly solicited comments on the draft Regulations of the State Council on Ensuring the Healthy and Safe Use of the Internet by Minors (Draft for Comments) — it proposes to prohibit the provision to minors of stranger social networking, virtual intimate relationship and other services; requires that online audio-visual, online games, online social networking and certain artificial intelligence services targeting users under the age of 16 be provided through a minors’ mode, and establishes mechanisms for user identification, algorithmic governance and filing of minors’ mode.
- The National Radio and Television Administration (“NRTA”) has introduced development measures for radio and television and online audio-visual services during the “15th Five-Year Plan” period — it will accelerate the legislative process of the Radio and Television Law, promote integrated television to replace traditional set-top boxes, improve the classified administration of micro-short dramas and platform review mechanisms, and require AI-generated audio-visual programs to be labeled, with key production stages and final cuts subject to manual review, strictly prohibiting “AI radical modification” (“AI magic alteration”) behaviors.
- The National Press and Publication Administration (“NPPA”) has issued the Development Plan for the Publishing Industry during the “15th Five-Year Plan” Period — it proposes to improve copyright trading platforms and copyright trading centers, strengthen copyright asset management and development by publishing entities, regulate copyright licensing and dissemination order, and enhance copyright protection and international dissemination in the fields of online literature, online games and cultural and creative products.
- The Ministry of Culture and Tourism has issued the Cultural Industry Development Plan during the “15th Five-Year Plan” Period — it proposes to develop new cultural formats such as digital animation, digital performing arts and digital entertainment, promote full-chain application of artificial intelligence, the construction of high-quality cultural datasets and the confirmation and trading of cultural data rights, and support brand licensing, innovation in game and e-sports, and the going-global of digital culture.
- The Jiang’an District People’s Court of Wuhan has concluded the first copyright infringement case involving AI-generated micro-short dramas in Hubei Province — where a creator makes personalized choices regarding AI-generated content and substantially controls the final expression, the relevant micro-short drama may constitute an audio-visual work protected under copyright law; the court took into account the computing power costs arising from token consumption and the licensing costs of commercial tools in assessing damages, and ordered the defendant to pay RMB 20,000 in compensation.
News
- The Central CAC held a working meeting in Guangzhou on the regulated development of online live streaming: it requires further strengthening of content management, adherence to correct guidance, and targeted governance of live streaming disorder; it calls for education and training of online streamers, care for and support of their growth, and guidance of the streamer community towards positive and virtuous conduct.
- Chaoyang District of Beijing has issued Several Measures of Chaoyang District for Supporting the High-Quality Development of the Micro-Short Drama Industry: focusing on eight aspects, namely premium content creation, application of digital-intelligent technologies, cultivation of market entities, cultural going-global, industrial clustering, public services, talent introduction and cultivation, and industry ecology, it introduces 20 measures to support full-industry-chain IP development, the construction of intelligent agent platforms and content distribution platforms, AIGC computing power保障, micro-short drama going-global services and copyright protection.
- As of 15 September 2026, China’s total box office for films in 2026 (including presales) exceeded RMB 29 billion, with total admissions reaching 737 million and total screenings reaching 106 million; as of late August, the cumulative overseas box office of domestic films exceeded RMB 450 million, and the “film+” model has further driven the development of diversified consumption scenarios such as culture and tourism and catering.
Cases
- The Yangpu District People’s Court of Shanghai has concluded an infringement case involving a script-killing game using elements from the film Big Fish & Begonia: the film’s character images, artistic lettering and posters can be protected as independent works of fine art; the script-killing services at issue constitute similar services to script writing and entertainment services for which the “Big Fish & Begonia” trademark is approved for use; three production companies were ordered to jointly compensate RMB 100,000, and the operating store bears joint and several liability within the scope of RMB 5,000.
- The Guangzhou Intermediate People’s Court has concluded a dispute over a performance brokerage contract involving an exclusive artist: an exclusive artist who participates in third-party events and live streams without the brokerage company’s permission, even if no remuneration is obtained, still breaches the exclusive and restrictive covenant; taking into account factors such as contract performance, degree of fault, the artist’s market value and the company’s expected benefits, the court ordered the artist to pay RMB 2 million as liquidated damages.
Key Focus
The CAC has publicly solicited comments on the draft Regulations of the State Council on Ensuring the Healthy and Safe Use of the Internet by Minors
The Draft for Comments contains 25 articles and is proposed to apply to activities that provide online services to minors, develop and manufacture intelligent terminal products within the territory of China, as well as activities that provide applications to intelligent terminal users through application distribution platforms, covering such fields as online audio-visual services, online live streaming, online games, online social networking, artificial intelligence services, intelligent terminals and application distribution platforms. The deadline for submitting comments on the Draft for Comments is 17 October 2026.
The core contents of the Draft for Comments are as follows:
Clarifying online services that shall not be provided to minors (Articles 4 and 24): Online service providers shall not provide stranger social networking services to minors, except where services are provided to minors aged 16 or above whose main source of livelihood is their own labor income; they shall not provide virtual intimate relationship services such as virtual relatives or virtual partners, or online services that induce minors to become addicted or otherwise harm or may seriously affect their physical and mental health. In addition, online service providers shall not provide online live streaming publishing services to minors under the age of 16. The national cyberspace administration authority may, together with relevant departments of the State Council, adjust relevant types of online services in due course according to the need to ensure the healthy and safe use of the internet by minors.
Requiring certain online services to be provided through a minors’ mode (Articles 5, 9 and 24): When providing online audio-visual services, online live streaming services other than online live streaming publishing services, online game services, as well as online social networking services such as microblogs, forum communities, groups, Moments, private messages and comment posts to minors under the age of 16, online service providers shall provide such services through a minors’ mode. Artificial intelligence services that may affect minors’ cognition and other online services that may have a significant impact on minors are also included in this requirement.
Establishing mechanisms for identification of minor users and service switching (Articles 6 and 9): Online service providers shall have the capability to identify minor users, and may, in accordance with law, comprehensively use methods such as statutory identity documents, national network identity authentication public services, distributed digital identity authentication public services, non-storage one-time facial verification and behavioral feature recognition to improve identification accuracy, and shall take necessary measures to ensure the security of minors’ personal information. For users who have completed real-name authentication or are identified as minors, platforms shall not provide the services listed in Article 4; where providing the services listed in Article 5, they shall switch the relevant services to the minors’ mode. Online service providers shall also establish channels for user appeals, promptly accept and verify user appeals, and lift relevant measures for users who, upon verification, meet the requirements.
Strengthening information content management under the minors’ mode (Articles 7 and 11): Online service providers shall strengthen the management of information published by users, and shall not display online information that harms or may affect minors’ physical and mental health under the minors’ mode. Where online service providers discover that minor users are in extreme situations such as self-harm or suicide that threaten their life and health, they shall take necessary measures to intervene and promptly contact the users’ guardians or emergency contacts. The minors’ mode shall also have functions such as identifying harmful information, protecting minors’ personal information rights and interests, preventing internet addiction, and facilitating guardians’ performance of guardianship duties.
Prohibiting the setting of algorithmic models that induce emotional dependence, addiction or excessive consumption (Article 8): Online service providers shall establish and improve systems for algorithm mechanism review, science and technology ethics review, information content management, and network and data security management, and shall be equipped with content management technical measures and personnel commensurate with the type of services, business scale and characteristics of minor users. Platforms shall not set algorithmic models that induce minor users to develop emotional dependence, addiction or excessive consumption. This provision is intended to have a direct impact on recommendation, interaction and payment mechanisms of online games, online live streaming, short videos, online social networking and virtual companionship artificial intelligence services.
Clarifying protection obligations of intelligent terminals and application distribution platforms (Article 10): Manufacturers of intelligent terminal products shall configure functions for linkage of minors’ mode, one-click switching, exit verification, anti-bypass, as well as management of usage time periods, usage duration, functions and content for intelligent terminal products. Providers of application distribution platform services shall implement safety management responsibilities such as listing review, routine management and emergency handling, assess the age appropriateness of applications in light of the construction and filing of minors’ mode, and strictly review applications applying to be listed or updated under the minors’ mode; for applications that do not meet the applicable age requirements, they shall restrict download and installation.
Establishing a filing and annual verification mechanism for minors’ mode (Article 12, paragraphs 1 to 3): The national cyberspace administration authority proposes to establish a filing mechanism for minors’ mode. Manufacturers of intelligent terminal products and online service providers that offer a minors’ mode shall submit information on the configuration and functions of the minors’ mode to the provincial-level cyberspace administration authorities; online platform service providers whose number of minor users is huge and who have a significant impact on the group of minors shall file with the national cyberspace administration authority through the provincial-level cyberspace administration authorities, and submit reports on the construction of the minors’ mode and the use of services. Cyberspace administration authorities will conduct annual verification of the filing materials.
Aligning with the anti-addiction regime for minors’ online games (Article 12, paragraph 4): The national press and publication authority shall take the lead in organizing work to prevent minors from becoming addicted to online games. Operators providing online game services to minors, in addition to complying with the requirements of the Draft for Comments on minors’ mode, user identification, algorithmic governance and content management, shall also comply with the Regulations on the Protection of Minors in Cyberspace and relevant provisions of the national press and publication authority on the administration of online games.
Clarifying the legal liabilities of online service providers and relevant responsible persons (Articles 18 and 19): Where provisions on prohibition of service provision, minors’ mode, user identification, content management and service switching are violated, the competent authorities may order corrections, give warnings and confiscate illegal gains. Where illegal gains reach RMB 1 million, a fine of not less than one time but not more than ten times the amount of illegal gains may also be imposed; where there are no illegal gains or illegal gains are less than RMB 1 million, a fine of not less than RMB 100,000 but not more than RMB 1 million may also be imposed. A fine of not less than RMB 10,000 but not more than RMB 100,000 may be imposed on the persons in charge who are directly responsible and other directly responsible persons; where corrections are refused or the circumstances are serious, penalties such as ordering suspension of relevant business, suspension of business for rectification, closure of websites or applications, up to revocation of relevant business permits or business licenses may also be imposed. Where user appeal channels are not provided as required, and corrections are refused or the circumstances are serious, a fine of not less than RMB 50,000 but not more than RMB 500,000 may be imposed.
Prescribing liabilities for violations involving intelligent terminals, application distribution platforms and filing (Article 20): Where manufacturers of intelligent terminal products or providers of application distribution platform services fail to configure and implement minors’ mode in accordance with law, or relevant entities fail to perform filing obligations for minors’ mode, the cyberspace administration authorities shall order corrections, give warnings, and may impose a fine of not less than RMB 100,000 but not more than RMB 1 million; a fine of not less than RMB 10,000 but not more than RMB 100,000 may be imposed on the persons in charge who are directly responsible and other directly responsible persons. Where corrections are refused or the circumstances are serious, penalties such as suspension of relevant business, suspension of business for rectification, closure of websites or applications, and revocation of relevant business permits or business licenses may also be imposed.
Source: China Internet Information Center
The NRTA introduces high-quality development measures for radio and television and online audio-visual services during the “15th Five-Year Plan” period: promoting integrated television, regulating the development of micro-short dramas and applications of AI in audio-visual content
The NRTA (hereinafter the “Administration”) stated that over the next five years it will promote deep integration of radio and television with online audio-visual services, coordinate four business levels, namely radio and television networks, IPTV, internet television and the public internet, and focus on promoting systemic reform of radio and television media, optimizing the supply of audio-visual content, strengthening technological support, improving comprehensive governance and security保障 systems, and enhancing the effectiveness of international communication. The Administration will also accelerate the legislative process of the Radio and Television Law, improve systems for content security, network security and data security, and support the going-global of high-quality audio-visual content and platforms.
The key related contents are as follows:
Promoting integrated development of radio and television and online audio-visual services: The Administration will promote integration of content planning, collection and production, coordinate television large screens, mobile small screens and domestic and overseas dissemination channels, and promote digital-intelligent transformation and organizational mechanism reform of radio and television stations. At the same time, it will further connect dissemination channels such as radio and television, online audio-visual platforms, cable television, IPTV and internet television, and promote mutual empowerment between large and small screens and collaborative dissemination of long and short videos. By the end of 2025, the number of online audio-visual users in China had reached 1.099 billion, with netizens watching more than 200 minutes per day on average, and the industry market size exceeded RMB 1.2 trillion.
Promoting integrated television and continuously addressing issues in the use of set-top boxes: In response to issues such as “nested” television charging and complex operation, the Administration will promote new types of terminals such as integrated television, embedding the functions of set-top boxes in televisions in the form of software, so that users can use functions such as live streaming, on-demand, one-click power on/off and one-click channel selection through a single television and a universal remote control. In view of the fact that some older models of televisions cannot complete integrated upgrades, the Administration will first deploy tens of millions of relevant terminals, and, as household stock televisions are updated, further expand the coverage of integrated television during the “15th Five-Year Plan” period. In the near term, two departmental rules, including the newly revised provisions on the administration of cable television and IPTV operation services, will also be issued.
Strengthening classified administration of micro-short dramas and promoting premium development: As of 1 September 2026, the Administrative Measures for the Development of Micro-Short Dramas have officially come into force, and the unified logo for micro-short dramas, the “Taehua Mark”, has been launched simultaneously. The Administration stated that the number of micro-short drama users nationwide has exceeded 800 million, and the market size exceeded RMB 100 billion in 2025; in the first eight months of 2026, 430,000 micro-short dramas were launched, 13 times the total number for the whole year of 2025, of which AI dramas accounted for more than 90%. In response to issues of content quality and rights protection arising from the rapid growth of micro-short dramas, the Administration will continue to implement a premium creation and dissemination program for micro-short dramas, promote platforms to set up dedicated sections for live-action dramas and improve commercial support mechanisms, while further enforcing platforms’ content review responsibilities. Since 2026, more than 68,000 non-compliant micro-short dramas have been removed from the entire network, and more than 1,200 non-compliant accounts have been dealt with, with more than 90% of the non-compliant content being AI dramas.
Regulating the application of artificial intelligence in micro-short dramas and other audio-visual content: The Administration will adhere to the dual principles of encouraging innovation and maintaining bottom lines, requiring AI micro-short dramas and other radio and television audio-visual programs generated, produced or broadcast using artificial intelligence to be labeled accordingly, and promoting platforms to strictly observe bottom lines for portrait and voice authorization and to conduct review throughout the entire content production process. Key production stages and final cuts of radio and television audio-visual programs must be subject to manual review and gatekeeping, and it is strictly prohibited to use artificial intelligence to “radically modify” (“magic alter”) relevant content.
Building an “AI + audio-visual” industry system: During the “15th Five-Year Plan” period, the Administration plans to build an artificial intelligence “1+3+1” system, namely application-driven, supported by models, data and computing power, and safeguarded by security. Relying on the national pilot base for artificial intelligence applications in the radio and television audio-visual industry, the Administration will build an industry-level AI common technology platform, promote industry entities to jointly build and share high-quality audio-visual datasets, vertical large models and computing power resources, and carry out technology verification and exploration of new business formats.
Enhancing regulatory capacity for television and online audio-visual services: The Administration will further clarify business boundaries among radio and television networks, IPTV, internet television and the public internet, and implement tiered and classified administration. It will strictly implement access administration at the front end, enforce platforms’ primary responsibilities and carry out full-chain governance at the mid-end, and build a nationwide integrated regulatory platform at the back end, using technologies such as artificial intelligence and big data to improve the capacity for monitoring and early warning across the entire network and handling illegal and non-compliant content. At the same time, the Administration will continue to address issues such as “nested” charging, complex operation and other practices that impair users’ viewing rights and interests.
Promoting the development of ultra-high-definition content and terminals: At present, newly filmed TV dramas, online dramas and documentaries in China have fully achieved ultra-high-definition. It is expected that by the end of 2026, the number of ultra-high-definition channels of China Media Group and provincial and municipal television stations will reach 23, and the proportion of ultra-high-definition content in newly added programs of six leading domestic online audio-visual platforms will reach 60%. The total number of ultra-high-definition set-top boxes for cable television and IPTV nationwide has reached 386 million. During the “15th Five-Year Plan” period, the Administration will continue to promote ultra-high-definition upgrades of television large screens, mobile phones, mobile terminals and in-vehicle screens, and improve the full-industry-chain system for ultra-high-definition content production, broadcasting, transmission and terminal application.
Source: National Radio and Television Administration
The NPPA issues the Development Plan for the Publishing Industry during the “15th Five-Year Plan” Period: strengthening copyright protection and licensing management, and promoting the development of online publishing, AI applications and international communication
The Plan proposes that by 2030, integrated development of the publishing industry will achieve significant breakthroughs, the contribution share of emerging publishing formats will be substantially increased, the number of copyright exports of publications will steadily rise, and the international competitiveness of publishing enterprises will be continuously enhanced. The core contents of the Plan relevant to this Weekly Report are as follows:
Strengthening copyright protection and regulating copyright licensing: The Plan proposes to continuously carry out special copyright protection campaigns such as “Sword Net” and “Youth Copyright Protection Season”, strengthen copyright protection for bestsellers, textbooks and supplementary teaching materials, children’s books and cultural and creative products, and regulate copyright licensing and dissemination order. At the same time, it will promote and improve the construction of copyright trading platforms and copyright trading centers, strengthen publishing entities’ management, development and trading use of copyright assets, and advance the formulation and revision of relevant standards around AI applications, digital publishing and copyright protection.
Strengthening regulation and premium supply of online literature and online games: The Plan proposes to strengthen the production and dissemination of high-quality content in online publishing, enhance regulation of online literature and online games, and guide relevant formats towards regulated and healthy development; it will implement a premium project for online publishing, selecting and recommending outstanding online literature and online game works that have correct value orientation, rich cultural connotation and innovative forms.
Promoting AI-powered publishing and multi-modal IP development: The Plan proposes to implement an AI empowerment action for publishing, strengthen the R&D and application of vertical publishing models, intelligent agents and high-quality corpora, and empower such stages as topic planning, content editing and proofreading, layout design, reading recommendation and operation and promotion. At the same time, it will promote cross-sector integration of publishing with film and television, culture and tourism, education and other fields, create influential premium multi-modal IP, and strengthen research on risks and ethics of technology applications.
Building publishing data and copyright infrastructure: The Plan proposes to improve the basic制度 for data factors in the publishing industry, build high-quality datasets in the field of publishing copyright and a trusted data space for the publishing industry, and enhance the capacity for development and utilization of publishing data; at the same time, it will build digital infrastructure such as a national digital resource general library of editions, an intelligent service platform for professional knowledge data, and an intelligent service platform for academic literature.
Promoting the expansion of online literature, online games and publishing IP into international markets: The Plan proposes that by 2030, the annual scale of book copyright exports will reach approximately 14,000 items, and will promote high-quality databases, Chinese language learning resources, online literature and online games to deeply cultivate international markets, and support publishing enterprises in expanding overseas marketing channels and creating publishing IP and enterprises with international influence and reputation.
Source: National Press and Publication Administration
The Ministry of Culture and Tourism issues the Cultural Industry Development Plan during the “15th Five-Year Plan” Period: promoting the development of performing arts and entertainment, animation and games, artificial intelligence, cultural data, IP licensing and digital culture going-global
The Plan proposes that by 2030, China’s cultural industry scale, overall strength, innovation capacity and international competitiveness will be further enhanced, and the pillar status of the cultural industry will be consolidated. The core contents of the Plan related to the cultural and entertainment industry are as follows:
Increasing the supply of original content and promoting innovation in entertainment formats: It will support creation and production in fields such as drama, music, dance, fine arts and animation, and encourage collaborative co-creation among content creators, internet platforms and cultural institutions and enterprises; it will develop models such as online performances, smart theaters and “second scene” performances, promote innovative development of concerts, music festivals, script-based entertainment, e-sports and game amusement, and support the operation and promotion of original animation and the development of derivatives and experiential scenarios.
Developing digital culture and AI applications: It will develop new formats such as digital animation, digital performing arts, digital entertainment, digital art and immersive experiences, and promote deep integration of AI with industry-chain segments such as content creation, dissemination and distribution, and consumption experience. It will support the development of vertical large models for the cultural industry, lightweight AI applications, high-level intelligent agents and typical application scenarios, and expand AI applications in fields such as animation, performing arts, creative design and museums.
Improving mechanisms for cultural data development and trading: It will promote the datafication and assetization of cultural resources, build high-quality cultural datasets and a trusted data space for the cultural industry, study and formulate standards for cultural data trading, improve mechanisms for confirmation of rights, valuation and trading of cultural data, and promote national standards for valuation and trading implementation of cultural digital assets.
Promoting IP development and brand licensing: It will support premium animation, performing arts, film and television and literary works in driving innovation in offline consumption scenarios, promote integration of cultural brands with industries such as apparel, home furnishing, consumer electronics and automobiles through licensing, co-branding and other means, improve mechanisms for cultural brand building, rights confirmation and operation, and cultivate licensing brands and benchmark enterprises with market influence.
Promoting digital culture going-global and strengthening IP protection: It will develop trade in cultural services and digital culture trade, support cultural enterprises in improving brand building, product production and overseas sales channels, consolidate competitive advantages in digital culture going-global, and tap export potential in fields such as performing arts, animation, creative design and “Guochao” cultural and creative products. At the same time, it will strengthen protection of cultural intellectual property rights, promote international coordination and regional mutual recognition of relevant standards, and advance the internationalization of IP protection in the cultural field.
Improving regulation of the cultural market: It will improve systems for administrative approval and filing and credit-based regulation in the cultural field, implement inclusive and prudent regulation for new cultural formats, strengthen content regulation of cultural products and comprehensive law enforcement in the cultural market, and promote the formation of a market order characterized by premium pricing and benign competition.
Source: Ministry of Culture and Tourism
The Jiang’an District People’s Court of Wuhan concludes the first copyright infringement case involving AI-generated micro-short dramas in Hubei Province
At the beginning of 2026, a micro-short drama creation and operation company used generative AI tools to complete a 47-episode micro-short drama titled Cloud XX, with a total duration of approximately one hour, and completed filing with the NRTA, after which it was released on platforms such as the Hongguo Short Drama App and WeChat Channels. On the day following the launch of the drama, another company, without permission, fully copied and reposted all episodes through its WeChat Channels account, altered the title of the micro-short drama, and profited by embedding commercial advertisements in the content. The right holder then filed a lawsuit, claiming that the defendant had infringed its right of communication of information on networks in respect of the work.
The Jiang’an District People’s Court of Wuhan Municipality held that the key to determining whether AI-assisted generated content can constitute a work lies in whether the relevant content originates from human intellectual input with originality and reflects the creator’s personalized choices and expression. The creators of the micro-short drama at issue fully participated in stages such as script planning, copywriting, setting of storyboard prompts, selection of character images and scene materials, screening of AI-generated segments, video editing, detail refinement, and matching of sound and subtitles. Although the main images and voiceovers were generated using AI tools, through material setting, prompt tuning, screening of generated content and post-production arrangement, the creators guided the generated content to realize the preset creative concept and had complete foreseeability and substantive control over the final cut. Therefore, AI is merely a technical tool for realizing the creative intent, and the micro-short drama at issue constitutes an audio-visual work protected under copyright law.
The court found that the defendant, without permission, altered the title of the work, fully copied and reposted all episodes of the drama at issue and profited by embedding advertisements, thereby infringing the plaintiff’s right of communication of information on networks in respect of the work, and shall bear civil liability for cessation of infringement and compensation for damages. As neither party was able to prove the actual losses of the right holder, the illegal gains of the infringer or the license fee for the work at issue, the court, taking into account factors such as the duration of the micro-short drama, scope of dissemination, time of launch, duration of infringement and the defendant’s subjective fault, and in light of the characteristics of AIGC creation, included the computing power costs arising from token consumption and the licensing costs of commercial tools in the assessment of creation costs, ultimately ordered the defendant to compensate economic losses and reasonable expenses totaling RMB 20,000. Neither party appealed, and the judgment has now become effective.
Source: Jingchu Net
News
Source: Cyberspace China
Source: People’s Government of Chaoyang District, Beijing Municipality
Source: CCTV.com
Cases
Source: Yangpu District People’s Court of Shanghai Municipality
Source: Guangzhou Intermediate People’s Court
