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Chinese web users will soon be required to use their real names when they register to play on-line games.

On June 22, China's Ministry of Culture, the regulator of the country's various on-line games, issued provisional regulations in relation to the operation of online games, which is to take effect from August 1 this year.

The regulations stipulate that on-line game operators are required to obtain the valid ID cards of users when they register to play any online games, the operators are also require to keep records of the personal registration information they collect.

The regulations are some of the first to specifically targeted the on-line gaming industry since it first began to take off in China about ten years ago.

According to the regulations, game operators that issue virtual money and trading services for their users, are required to first obtain a license or an 'Internet Culture Operation Permit' (網絡文化經營許可證) from the relevant Ministry of Culture office.

The permit is valid for three years and after it expires, online game operators are required to once again apply for a new permit from the Ministry of Culture.

To meet the permit requirements, online game operators must have at least 10 million yuan in registered capital.

The regulations also require companies offering virtual money to their online users make sure that the players use a valid ID card to register their account and that this account is tied to the user's bank account.

In addition, companies allow their users to trade and exchange virtual money are prohibited from allowing  people under 18 years of age from using their services.

Links and Sources
Gov.cn: 《網絡游戲管理暫行辦法》解讀 (Chinese)
Xinhua: 文化部《網絡游戲管理暫行辦法》全文 Full Text of New Regulations (Chinese)
Guardian: Image

This article was edited by Paul Pennay