China's New Internet Gaming Law

China's new internet gaming law came into effect today leading experts to consider how to ensure their online games do not 'lead to the imitation of behavior that violates social morals and the law'.   The new regulations are aimed at games that target minors and include provisions that seek to protect minors and reduce gaming addiction.  Legal advisors in China have been briefed on the new regulations which apply to foreign as well as Chinese online games.  

Mark Wells of Beijing Zhenbang Law Firm confirmed that while the law was passed by the Ministry of Culture on June 22, the regulations do not provide guidance on either permissible methods of reducing addiction or specific time limits so as to assist gaming companies comply with the new law.  As with many laws passed in China, the regulatory authorities are well aware of the need for discretion and this new law is no exception, said Mr. Wells.  While that may in fact seem subjective, all jurisdictions provide discretion to decision-makers and rightly so, he added.   Mandatory sentencing, for example, is vehemently opposed by many legal practitioners globally and in China, discretion remains an important legal concept.