Company: ZHIHF
Filing Date: 2025-04-15
Form Type: 20-F
Source: 0001410578-25-000729
Chunk: 112

Company: Zhihu Inc.
Filing Date: 2025-04-15
Form: 20-F
Item: Item 3
Chunk 112
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, Film and Television issued the Supplemental Notice on Improving the Administration of Online Audio-visual Content Including Internet Drama and Micro Films on January 2, 2014. This notice emphasizes that entities producing online audio-visual content, such as internet drama and micro films, must obtain a Radio and Television Program Production and Operation License, and that online audio-visual content service providers cannot release any internet drama or micro films that were produced by any entity lacking such license. For internet drama or micro films produced and uploaded by individual users, the online audio-visual service providers transmitting such content will be deemed responsible as a producer. Further, under this notice, online audio-visual service providers can only transmit content uploaded by individuals whose identity has been verified and such content shall comply with the content management rules. This notice also requires that online audio-visual content, including internet drama and micro films, to be filed with the authorities before release.

Pursuant to the Administrative Regulations on Internet Audio-Visual Program Service, providers of internet audio-visual program services are generally required to be either state-owned or state-controlled. According to the Official Answers to Press Questions Regarding the Administrative Regulations on Internet Audio-Visual Program Service published on the website of the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television on February 3, 2008, the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television and Ministry of Information Industry, the predecessor of the MIIT, clarified that providers of internet audio-visual program services who had legally engaged in such services prior to the adoption of these regulations are eligible to re-register their businesses and continue their operations of internet audio-visual program services so long as those providers have not been in violation of the laws and regulations. This exemption will not be granted to internet audio-visual program service providers established after the adoption of these regulations.

These policies have later been reflected in the Notice on Relevant Issues Concerning Application and Approval of Audio-Visual Permit, issued by State Administration of Radio, Film and Television on April 8, 2008 and amended on August 28, 2015.

Table of Contents

In March 2018, the State Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television issued the Notice on Further Regulating the Transmission Order of Internet Audio-visual Programs, which requires that, among others, audio-visual platforms shall: (i) not produce or transmit programs intended to parody or denigrate classic works, (ii) not re-edit, re-dub, re-caption or otherwise ridicule classic works, radio and television programs,