Special report: 2008 Olympic Games

    BEIJING, July 7 (Xinhua) -- China's National Copyright Administration (NCA) has warned more than 20 websites for illegally streaming Olympic programming.

    The NCA warned the websites, including www.pomoho.com, to stop illegal streaming of Olympic video programming immediately.

    National broadcaster China Central Television (CCTV) holds the exclusive rights for online broadcasts of the August Games. This includes streaming rights for the Games' opening and closing ceremonies, the sporting events, pre-Olympic trial events, the torch relay and other cultural activities.

    Live streaming of the Olympics, either over the Internet or via mobile phones in the Chinese mainland and the Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR), must be authorized by CCTV.

    According to the NCA, the program copyright owner discovered violations by more than 20 websites in illegally streaming the Olympic torch relay.

    In late May, lawyers sent letters to the violators, telling them to cease transmitting any footage related to the Games. However, a few had so far ignored the warning, a NCA source said.

    On Monday, the NCA, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) and the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television jointly issued a notice banning illegal streaming of Olympic programming.

    Violators will be warned and punished, according to the notice.

    The MIIT will also shut down serious violators and their record will be linked to approval of future programming licenses, according to the notice.

    The NCA, the MIIT and the Ministry of Public Security have jointly established an office to combat IPR infringement on the Internet. They also launched the 12390 hotline for the public to report tips on IPR infringement on Olympic programming through the Net.