Company: ZHIHF
Filing Date: 2025-04-15
Form Type: 20-F
Source: 0001410578-25-000729
Chunk: 111

Company: Zhihu Inc.
Filing Date: 2025-04-15
Form: 20-F
Item: Item 3
Chunk 111
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 prerequisite.

On April 13, 2005, the State Council promulgated Decisions on the Entry of the Non-state-owned Capital into the Cultural Industry. On July 6, 2005, five PRC regulatory agencies, including the Ministry of Culture, State Administration of Radio, Film and Television, the General Administration of Press and Publications, the NDRC, and the Ministry of Commerce, jointly adopted Opinions on Introducing Foreign Investments to the Cultural Sector. According to these regulations, non-state-owned capital and foreign investors are generally not allowed to conduct the business of transmitting audio-visual programs via information network. In addition, internet cultural business, except for music, remains a prohibited area for foreign investment on the 2024 Negative List.

The Administrative Measures for Content Self-review by Internet Culture Business Entities, which were promulgated by the Ministry of Culture on August 12, 2013 and took effect on December 1, 2013, require internet culture business entities to review the content of culture products and services before providing them to the public. The content management system required to be established by an internet culture business entity shall specify the responsibilities, standards and processes for content review as well as accountability measures, and be filed with the local provincial branch of the Ministry of Culture.

Regulations Relating to Internet Audio-Visual Program Services

According to the Administrative Regulations on Internet Audio-Visual Program Service promulgated by the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television and the Ministry of Information Industry, the predecessor of the MIIT, on December 20, 2007, which were amended on August 28, 2015, internet audio-visual program service refers to activities of making, editing, and integrating audio-visual programs, providing them to the general public via internet, and providing such services to other people by uploading. An internet audio-visual program service provider must obtain an Audio-Visual Permit issued by the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television or complete certain registration procedures with the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television. On March 30, 2009, the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television promulgated the Notice on Strengthening the Administration of the Content of Internet Audio-Visual Programs, which reiterates the pre-approval requirements for the internet audio-visual programs, including those on mobile network (if applicable), and prohibits internet audio-visual programs containing violence, pornography, gambling, terrorism, superstition, or other prohibited elements. The State Administration of Press, Publication, Radio