The State Bureau of Surveying and Mapping of China will release its first round of internet mapping licenses this month.
The announcement comes with a warning that by the end of the year any companies that are providing internet mapping services without a license will be prosecuted.
It is expected that the new licenses will only be granted to Chinese-owned businesses that are deemed to have appropriate credentials to place and produce web-based maps.
According to China Tech News, other providers will probably need permission to use government sanctioned maps of Chinese cities on their websites. For example, travel and lifestyle sites currently using non-sanctioned maps of Chinese cities will need to delete these maps and replace them with official government products in the future.
The bureau published its latest revised internet map service professional standards on 17 May. It included clarification about regulations and also expanded its standards to include maps designed for mobile phones and PDAs for the first time.
