根據游戲產業網發布的《2016年1-6月中國游戲產業報告》，2016年1～6月，中國游戲（包括客戶端游戲、網頁游戲、社交游戲、移動游戲、單機游戲、電視游戲等）市場實際銷售收入達到787.5億元人民幣，同比增30.1%。

According to ChinaGaming Industry Report for January to June 2016 released by CGIGC （http://www.cgigc.com.cn/）, from January to June 2016, the actual sales revenue of Chinese gaming (includingclient game, web game, social game, mobile game, console game, video game,etc.) market was RMB78.75 billion, with a year-on-year growth of 30.1%t.

游戲行業持續火爆，吸引了大批的創業者和投資者投身其中。與此同時，國家監管層出于對游戲行業的監管和知識產權的保護，對游戲行業公司設置了多項行政許可管理。很多初創游戲公司由于對相關規定的不了解以致影響業務正常開展。

Thepopularity of gaming industry attracts a large number of entrepreneurs and investors.Meanwhile, national regulators set up various administrative licenses andapprovals upon game companies for the supervision of gaming industry andprotection of intellectual property. Because of lacking of enough knowledgeregarding relevant regulations, the normal business of many start-up gamecompanies has been affected.

一個游戲公司從成立至游戲上線運營，至少需要五項行政審批，包括：網絡文化經營許可證、增值電信業務經營許可證、游戲著作權、游戲版號和游戲運營備案。游戲版號申請需要提供增值電信業務許可證，游戲備案需要提供網絡文化經營許可證，因此初創游戲公司必須先申請的行政許可事項是網絡文化經營許可證和增值電信業務許可證。

There are at least five administrative licensesor approvals for a game company from establishment to game launch, includingInternet Culture Operation License, BusinessCertificate of Value-added Telecommunications, Game Copyright, theapproval document from SAPPRFT, and game operation record. The application forthe approval document from SAPPRFT shall be based on obtaining Business Certificate of Value-added Telecommunications, the gameoperation record shall be based on obtaining Internet Culture OperationLicense, and therefore, start-up game companies shall apply for the InternetCulture Operation License and BusinessCertificate of Value-added Telecommunications first.

2016年5月24日國家新聞出版廣電總局頒布了《關于移動游戲出版服務管理的通知》,要求所有的移動游戲產品在7月1日前必須取得游戲版號才可以上網出版運營。越來越嚴厲的監管措施讓很多獨立游戲開發者和游戲公司意識到了提前準備申請以及快速獲得網絡文化經營許可證和增值電信業務經營許可證的必要性。

SAPPRFTissued Notice about Management of PublishingService of Mobile Games on May 24th 2016, requiring that allmobile game products shall not operate online until they obtain the approvaldocument from SAPPRFT before July 1st. The increasingly strictregulatory measures make many game developers and game companies realize thenecessity of preparing the application for the Internet Culture OperationLicense and ICP in advance and obtaining them speedily.

本文將詳細介紹上述兩項初創游戲公司運營過程中必備的行政許可審批。

Thisarticle will introduce the aforesaid two administrative licenses which are necessaryfor the operation of start-up game companies in detail.

游戲公司在游戲平臺（網頁游戲、客戶端游戲、手機游戲等）開發好后，都需要對自己經營的業務進行前置審批申請，即申請網絡文化經營許可證，也就是業內人士所稱的“文網文”證書。

Aftergames have been developed on platforms (web game, client game and mobile game,etc.), game companies shall apply for the examination and approval for theirbusiness operation, in other words, applying for the Internet Culture OperationLicense.

從事互聯網游戲運營、動漫產品、音樂產品、展覽比賽、網絡表演等相關網絡文化業務的公司，取得文網文后才可合法經營相關業務。文網文受理部門是各省、自治區、直轄市的文化主管單位，文化廳或者文化局等。辦理期限是受理后的20個工作日。文網文資質有效期是三年，到期需要提前續辦。

Companiesengaging in the operation of internet games, animation products, musicalproducts, exhibition competition, internet performance, and other relevantinternet cultural business, shall obtain the Internet Culture Operation Licensebefore operating the relevant business legally. The acceptance department of InternetCulture Operation License application is the relevant administrative departmentin charge of culture, Agency for Cultural Affairs, or Cultural Affairs Bureauof each province of the State (including autonomous regions and municipalities).The time limitation for handling is 20 workdays after acceptance. The period ofvalidity of Internet Culture Operation License is 3 years, and it shall berenewed before the expiring date.

為落實注冊資本登記制度改革工作，文化部2015年7月出臺了“先照后證”政策，新政取消了申請企業的注冊資本實收的門檻，即不要求企業提供實繳注冊資本的驗資報告，只要認繳便可申請文網文。

Forthe implementation of registration system reform of registered capital, in July2015, the Ministry of Culture issued a policy of “Business license first”. Thisnew policy has canceled the threshold of paid-in registered capital forcompanies, in other words, companies no longer need to provide capital verificationreport on their paid-up capital, they only need to subscribe capital before applyingfor the Internet Culture Operation License.

外資方面，《關于文化領域引進外資的若干意見》（文辦發〔2005〕19號）第四條規定，禁止外商投資設立和經營互聯網文化經營機構。故目前外商投資企業無法申請網絡文化經營許可證。

Forforeign-invested companies, Article 4 of SeveralOptions on Introduction of Foreign Investment in Cultural Field (NO.〔2005〕19issued by State Council InformationOffice) prohibits foreign investment to set up and operate internet cultureinstitutions. Therefore, foreign-invested companies cannot apply for InternetCulture Operation License.

1、《互聯網文化管理暫行規定》（文化部令第51號）

1、Interim Provisions of Internet CultureManagement (NO.51 Decree ofMinistry of Culture)

2、《網絡游戲管理暫行辦法》（文化部令第49號）

2、Interim Provisions of Internet Game Management (NO.49 Decree of Ministry of Culture)

3、《文化部辦公廳關于下放經營性互聯網文化單位行政許可審批工作的通知》（辦市發[2010]23號）

3、Notice about General Office of Ministry of Culturedelegating power of administrative licensing and approving of commercialinternet cultural companies to local government (NO.[2010]23 issued by General Office)

4、《文化部關于落實“先照后證”改進文化市場行政審批工作的通知》（文市發[2015]627號）

4、Notice about implementation of “Business licensefirst” and improving the administrative examination and approval in culturalmarket (NO.[2015]627issued by Ministry of Culture)

1、  有確定的單位的名稱、住所、組織機構和章程；

1、certain name,address, institutional framework of the company and articles of association;

2、有確定的互聯網文化活動范圍；

2、certain range of internet cultural activity;

3、有適應互聯網文化活動需要的人員、設備、工作場所以及相應的管理技術措施；

3、staff, equipments, work place and the corresponding managementtechnical measures that satisfy the needs of internet cultural activities;

4、有確定的域名；

4、certain domainname;

5、符合法律、行政法規和國家有關規定的條件。

5、compliance with the provisions of laws, regulations and otherrelevant stipulations of the State.

1、《設立經營性互聯網文化單位申請表》

1、application form ofestablishing commercial internet culture company

2、企業法人營業執照

2、Business License

3、從工商行政管理部門調取的章程或機讀檔案

3、articles of association ormachine-readable archives taken from industrial and commercial administrativedepartment

4、法定代表人和自然人股東身份證

4、certificate of identificationof legal representative and individual shareholder(s)

5、網站域名登記證明

5、website domain name registrationcertificate

6、企業發展可行性報告

6、feasibility reportof the company

與下文的ICP比起來，文網文申請材料較少，申請流程也較簡單快捷，但是下列一些申請中的要點仍需注意：

Comparing to the ICP that follows,materials needed for Internet Culture Operation License are lesser, applicationprocess is simpler and quicker, but these following points shall be noted:

1、申請單位必須是內資企業，不能含有任何外資成分。

1、The applicant mustbe a domestic company, any foreign components are forbidden.

2、雖然文網文申請已取消了申請企業*低注冊資本要求。但考慮到游戲公司后期還須申請ICP，而ICP審批要求申請企業注冊資金不低于100萬元人民幣，因此建議客戶的注冊資金*少認繳100萬元，這樣既能申請文網文也能申請ICP。

2、Although therequirement of minimum registered capital was canceled for the Internet CultureOperation License, considering the game company shall apply for ICP later, whichrequires the registered capital of the applicant not less than RMB1 million, itis better to subscribe RMB1 million for the registered capital in order to meetthe requirements of both Internet Culture Operation License and ICP.

3、提交材料時，企業營業執照、法定代表人和自然人股東身份證需攜帶原件和復印件，原件核對后當場退回。

3、When submitting materials,originals and copies of business license, certificate of identification oflegal representative and individual shareholder(s) shall be taken together. Theoriginal will be returned on the spot after verification.

4、文網文要求審核網站經營的游戲情況，工作人員會當場審核公司網站是否符合國家規定：適齡提示、防沉迷系統、ICP備案號、客服中心聯系方式等。

4、One item of applying for Internet Culture OperationLicense is to check the conditions of games operated by the website. Officerswill check whether the website conforms to the regulations or not: reminder of agerestrictions, anti-addiction system, record number of ICP, contact informationof customer service center, etc.

文網文屬于文化主管部門的前置審批，游戲運營企業須在取得文網文后，才可以進行《增值電信業務經營許可證》的申請，即大家所說的“ICP證”。ICP許可證的審批及發證對象是針對在線經營的網絡平臺，如網絡購物、網絡游戲、有償信息服務等通過網絡平臺直接付費從而形成商品交易或有償信息服務的平臺。在互聯網上運營游戲的話，必須辦理此證。

InternetCulture Operation License is a pre-approval license governed by administrativedepartment in charge of culture, game operating company can apply for the Business Certificate of Value-added Telecommunications,in other words, “ICP Certificate” only after obtaining Internet CultureOperation License. The objects of examination, approval and issuing of ICP Certificateare all internet platforms that operate online business, such as onlineshopping, online game, compensable information service and other platforms whichformatting commodity transaction or compensable information service through directonline payment on such platforms. This certificate must be obtained foroperating games in the internet.

ICP受理部門是工業和信息化部和省、自治區、直轄市通信管理局。從2012年7月開始，申請ICP證都需要先在工信部的管理系統上網絡申請，網申通過之后再去各地通信管理局遞交紙質材料。審批期限是自受理之日起60個工作日。ICP證書有效期是五年，每月前十日要提交月報，每年年初都要年檢，到期要提前續辦。

Theacceptance department of ICP application is MIIT and AGCOM of each province(including autonomous regions and municipalities). From July 2012, the priorstep for applying for ICP Certificate is to apply on the online managementsystem of MIIT. After passing online application, applicant shall submit papermaterials to AGCOM. The time limitation for handling is 60 workdays after acceptance.The period of validity of ICP Certificate is 5 years. A monthly report shall besubmitted ten days prior to the beginning of each month, annual check shall be carriedout at the beginning of each year, and the license shall be renewed before theexpiring date.

與文網文取消申請單位注冊資本要求不同，ICP嚴格要求申請單位的注冊資本：在省、自治區、直轄市范圍內經營的，注冊資本*低限額為100萬元人民幣；在全國或者跨省、自治區、直轄市范圍經營的，注冊資本*低限額為1000萬元人民幣。

Differentfrom the Internet Culture Operation License application, which canceled therequirement of registered capital of applicants, ICP strictly requires theregistered capital of applicants: operator whichcarries out business within the scope of a province, autonomous region ormunicipality shall have a registered capital with a lower limit of RMB 1million; operator which carries out business within the scope of the country orcross provinces, autonomous regions or municipalities shall have a registeredcapital with a lower limit of RMB 10 million.

外資方面，雖然國家并未禁止外商投資電信業務，但是電信業務仍屬于限制類外商投資產業。外商投資電信企業的中方投資者和外方投資者在不同時期的出資比例，由國務院信息產業主管部門按照有關規定確定。當前經營網絡游戲類增值電信業務的外商投資電信企業的外方投資者在企業中的出資比例，不得超過49%。

Forforeign-invested companies, although the state does not forbid foreigninvestors to invest telecommunication business, the business is still in thefield of restricted industry. The proportion of capital contribution of foreignand domestic investors in different stage in the foreign-investedtelecommunication company shall be determined by the competent department ofinformation industry under the state council according to relevant regulations.The proportion of capital contribution of foreign investors in foreign-investedtelecommunication company operating internet gaming value-addedtelecommunication services shall be no more than 49%.

1、《中華人民共和國電信條例》（國務院令第291號）

1、TelecommunicationRegulations of the People’s Republic of China (NO.291 Decree of the State Council)

2、《電信業務經營許可管理辦法》（工信部令5號）

2、Measuresfor the Management of Telecommunications Business License (NO.5 Decree of MIIT)

3、《外商投資電信企業管理規定》（國務院令第333號）

3、Provisionson Administration of Foreign-Invested Telecommunications Enterprises (NO.333 Decree of the State Council)

申請經營增值電信業務的，應當符合下列條件

The applicant whoapplies for operating value-added telecommunications business shall meet thefollowing requirements:

1、經營者為依法設立的公司。

1、the operator shallbe a duly established company.

2、有與開展經營活動相適應的資金和專業人員。

2、the operator shall have capital andpersonnel sufficient for the operation activities.

3、有為用戶提供長期服務的信譽或者能力。

3、the operator shall have the good willand competence for providing long-term services to users.

4、在省、自治區、直轄市范圍內經營的，注冊資本*低限額為100萬元人民幣；在全國或者跨省、自治區、直轄市范圍經營的，注冊資本*低限額為1000萬元人民幣。

4、operator which carries out business within the scope of a province,autonomous region or municipality shall have a registered capital with a lowerlimit of RMB 1 million; operator which carries out business within the scope ofthe country or cross provinces, autonomous regions or municipalities shall havea registered capital with a lower limit of RMB 10 million.

5、有必要的場地、設施及技術方案。

5、the operator shall have necessary sites, facilities and technicalscheme for the operation activities.

6、公司及其主要出資者和主要經營管理人員三年內無違反電信監督管理制度的違法記錄。

6、the operator, its principalcontributor and its principal management have no record of violation oftelecommunication supervision and administration system within three years.

7、國家規定的其他條件。

7、other conditionsstipulated by the State.

申請辦理增值電信業務經營許可證的，應當向電信管理機構提交下列申請材料：

The applicant who appliesfor the Business Certificate of Value-added Telecommunications shall submit thefollowing materials:

1、公司法定代表人簽署的經營增值電信業務的書面申請。

1、the written application for operating value-addedtelecom business signed by the legal representative of the company.

2、公司的企業法人營業執照副本及復印件。

2、counterpart and copy of the BusinessLicense of the company.

3、公司概況。包括：公司基本情況，擬從事增值電信業務的人員、場地和設施等情況。

3、company’s profile, including basic information of the company, thepersonnel of the telecom business proposed to be operated, and site andfacilities suitable for the business, etc.

4、公司*近經會計師事務所審計的企業法人年度財務會計報告或者驗資報告及電信管理機構規定的其他相關會計資料。

4、the latest annual financial statementof the company audited by accounting firm or report on capital verification andother relevant accounting materials required by the MIIT.

5、公司章程、公司股權結構及股東的有關情況。

5、articles of association, equitystructure of the company and information of the shareholders.

6、申請經營電信業務的業務發展、實施計劃和技術方案。

6、the business development,implementation plan and technical scheme of the telecom business applied foroperation.

7、為用戶提供長期服務和質量保障的措施。

7、measures for providing long-term services and quality warranty for users.

8、信息安全保障措施。

8、guaranty measures for informationsafety.

9、證明公司信譽的有關材料。

9、relevant materials certifying thegood will of the company.

10、公司法定代表人簽署的公司依法經營電信業務的承諾書。

10、the commitment for legal operation oftelecom business signed by the legal representative of the company.

申請經營的電信業務依照法律、行政法規及國家有關規定須經有關主管部門事先審核同意的，應當提交有關主管部門審核同意的文件。

Where applicationfor operating telecom business is subject to prior examination and approval by relevantcompetent department as provided by laws, administrative regulations and Stateprovisions, the approval document of such relevant competent department shallbe submitted upon examination.

ICP申請的主要難點在于網申階段，提交材料數量眾多，內容繁雜，網絡信息安全保障措施和業務發展方案等申請材料都需要如實詳細撰寫，申請難度較大。以下申請要點值得關注：

The main difficulty of ICP applicationlies in its online application process. During this process, the materials thatshall be submitted are numerous, the contents are diverse, and the guarantymeasures for internet information, business development plan shall be writtenin detail and accurately, so it is quite difficult to apply. The followingpoints are worth of attention:

1、經營網絡游戲業務，須先取得《網絡文化經營許可證》，才可以申請ICP證。

1、To operate internet game business, ICP Certificate isapplicable only after obtaining the Internet Culture Operation License.

2、公司的主要人員應不少于3人，至少應包括專人專崗的企業聯系人、信息安全負責人、客服負責人等人員，一般需提供5名。

2、Principal personnel of the company shall be no less than 3 persons,at least including company contact person, person in charge of information safety,person in charge of customer service, etc. No one can hold more than one position,generally 5 persons shall be submitted.

3、必須提交公司為上述公司主要人員近期繳納的社保證明。因為游戲公司先取得文網文才可以申請ICP，建議客戶在游戲公司設立之后申請文網文時盡快為員工繳納社保。

3、Proof of recent social security paid by the company for the above principalpersonnel must be submitted. Game company can apply for ICP license only afterobtaining the Internet Culture Operation License, so it is better for the company topay social security for its personnel as soon as possible upon the applicationfor the Internet Culture Operation License after the company is established.

4、以前ICP申請需要提供公司主要人員的學歷證明、資質證書等材料，現在已經不需要提供。

4、Proofs of diploma, qualifications of the principal personnel ofthe company are no longer required to submit for ICP application.