From Reuters (link):
Internet search giant Google Inc.’s (GOOG.O: Quote, Profile, Research) controversial expansion into China now faces possible trouble with regulators after a Beijing newspaper said its new Chinese-language platform does not have a license.
The Beijing News reported on Tuesday that Google.cn, the company’s recently launched service that accommodates the China’s censorship demands, “has not obtained the ICP (Internet content provider) license needed to operate Internet content services in China.”
The Ministry of Information Industry, which regulates China’s Internet, was “concerned” and investigating the problem, the paper said.
UPDATE (2.21.06 12:00 PST): See “Google denies license problem in China” from Reuters (link):
Technorati Tags: China, Google
The Beijing News reported on Tuesday that Google.cn, the recently launched service that accommodates China’s censorship demands, has not obtained the Internet content provider (ICP) license needed to operate in China…
A Google representative said the newspaper reports were groundless. “Google has the required license to operate the Google.cn service in China,” the representative said in an e-mailed statement.
Google used the ICP license of another, local company, Ganji.com, under a business partnership–a practice followed by many international Internet companies in China. The license number is displayed at the bottom of the Google.cn screen.
