International uproar over China's internet curbs

New Chinese rules issued recently tighten the state's control on internet services, further restricting foreign participation in online publishing and requiring every domain name and website accessible in the country to be registered in the PRC.

While a number of mainland practitioners described the guidelines as having little effect on websites based abroad, the move prompted a chorus of protests from overseas. The New York Times cited the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative as saying that China's internet censorship and online restrictions damage the business interests of U.S. companies. Beijing clearly intends to exert more control on foreign companies that target the PRC audience, according to Xun Yang, Shanghai-based IP and technology counsel at Simmons & Simmons.

The criticisms came after the February 4, 2016, release of the Provisions for the Administration of Online Publication Services (Provisions) by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) and the State Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television.