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Tencent Games has established streaming rules for all its gaming content, in response to China’s internet governance requirements.

The rules are applicable to all gaming streaming platforms, productions, institutions, and streamers, as long as their content is based on Tencent products.

In March of 2018, Tencent Holdings invested in Chinese streaming platforms Huya, Douyu, and Bilibili, and runs its own platforms, including Penguin Esports.

On Feb. 14, Tencent Games announced streaming rules for all Tencent’s game-related content. According to the announcement, this operation is in response to the internet governance requirements from Chinese authorities, which went into effect two weeks before. The rules are applicable to all gaming streaming platforms, productions, institutions, and streamers, as long as their contents are based on Tencent’s products.

Rules will be strictly observed by Tencent, including but not limited to:

Violating the basic principles of constitutional law, sensitive topics including national politics, nationalities, religions, and regions.

Publicizing or releasing illegal information, including but not limited to pornography, gambling, cults, terrorism, and other contents.

Behavior directly or indirectly damaging Tencent Game user’s experience and brand.

Disseminating or spreading false information to other users by pretending to officially represent Tencent.

Disseminating private servers, cheating, hacking, or account boosting information.

Promoting and instigating bloody violence in the real world.

Violating others’ privacy and disclosing others’ information without permission.

Violating the spirit of a contract, unilaterally terminating the contract or signing other unexcused agreements with third parties, during the term of a contract with a streaming platform.

Violating the copyright of game publishers and content creators.

Content that causes any negative social influences.

The rule regarding contract violations follows an incident where a 19-year-old Chinese Honor of Kings streamer, Jiang “Haishi” Haitao, signed an agreement with streaming platform Douyu, despite already being signed to Huya. He was sued by Huya in November of 2018 and received a ￥49M RMB ($7.24M USD) fine by Guangzhou Intermediate People’s Court.

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As part of an announcement posted on the Chinese social media service Weibo, Tencent also stated:

“There is a natural copyright relationship between gaming contents and live streaming platforms. Tencent, as a gaming streaming platform leader and game publisher, has the responsibility to promote the standardization and authorization of streaming contents in the industry.”

After Tencent posted the announcement, it was reposted on Douyu’s official Weibo page.

Tencent Holdings has investments across the Chinese livestreaming industry. Alongside the company’s own gaming streaming platform, called Penguin Esports, Tencent invested $632M in Douyu and led a $461.6M funding round in another streaming platform, Huya , back in March 2018. In October 2018, Tencent purchased more than 25M shares (approximately 12.3%) in video platform Bilibili, for $317.6M.