All .cn websites require business license

• Source: Global Times
• [03:31 December 14 2009]
• Comments

By Xu Shenglan

China's network information center said that individuals are effectively barred from registering domain names ending with .cn unless they have a business license to show they're a bona fide company.

The announcement came after a report by China Central Television (CCTV) aired criticism of the registration process and linked it to the prevalence of pornographic websites.

The China Internet Network Information Center (CNNIC) published a notice Sunday saying that applicants must submit written applications to the registration agents. The written materials must include an application form with an official seal, an enterprise business license and the registrant's ID card.

CNNIC plans to verify the information of the owners of personal site in the nation. Those found unqualified to have a site will be required to update the information in five working days, otherwise they will be shut down.

The Internet Domain Name Regulations stipulates that websites will be closed if the domain name registrants fail to submit real, accurate and complete information.

CCTV reported last Wednesday that some domain registration agents approved website addresses with .cn even though the information submitted is incomplete or inaccurate, which leads to a large quantity of pornography websites.

The report said a man named Zheng Junfa in Changzhou, Jiangsu Province was recently arrested for operating dozens of pornographic websites. Some of the websites were closed during a crackdown, but Zheng reopened them with a different website address. Investigations revealed that Zheng has more then 30 website addresses ending with .cn.

The report said the CNNIC has failed to exercise its legal responsibility to properly manage domain name registration.

Three domain name registration agents on the mainland, Zhengzhou-based unndc.com, Beijing-based namerich.cn and xinnet.com were exposed in the report and their business of .cn domain name registration was suspended Friday.