(ECNS) -- Approvals for publication of mobile games do not require a fee, and there are no authorized intermediary services, Chinese authorities said on Thursday to explain a new rule that took effect this month.
Some online vendors on sites such as Taobao.com offer help to developers of new mobile games in obtaining a publication number, a perquisite for all legal publications in China.
One claimed to offer both regular and expedited services. The regular service took 60 to 90 working days at a price of 20,000 yuan ($2,990), while the expedited service took 40 to 50 for 40,000 yuan.
But the State Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television on Thursday warned the public about such online claims, noting that there are no provisions for expedited services in the approval process.
The watchdog forbids unqualified agencies from submitting applications for approval of mobile games, and has no authorized organizations or individuals that offer intermediary services, it said.
No one, including authorities at provincial level, charges fees for the approval of mobile or any other video games.
The decision on approval or disapproval of publications that do not involve political, military, ethnic or religious content, and those having simple or no storylines, is usually made within 10 workdays, said the watchdog.
To date this year, the approval time for online games has taken 11 working days at the shortest and around 40 days on average. In some rare cases, where problems were detected, it took nearly 80 working days.
Data from the administration shows that 82 video games received ISSNs in June, including 62 mobile games.
Responding to China News Service's inquiry, a Taobao employee said vendors offering mobile game approval services would be deleted on Thursday and blocking rules implemented on Friday.
