Law Information | Laws & Regulations Database of Taipei City

Chapter 1 General Principles
Article 1 For the purposes of management of computer game industry among the information leisure service providers (hereinafter referred to as computer game businesses), promoting sound development of the industry, defending peacefulness of the society, decent social customs, public safety, hygiene and health in body and mind for all citizens, Taipei Municipality formulated this Self-Government Ordinance. The management of computer game businesses, unless otherwise stipulated, shall be in accordance with stipulations in this Self-Government Ordinance.
Article 2 The competent authority stated in this Self-Government Ordinance is Department of Economic Development, Taipei Municipal Government. The competent authority may commission part of its authority to be exercised by Taipei Business Administration Office.
Article 3 The term, computer game industry, as used in this Self-Government Ordinance denote those profit-seeking enterprises providing games to patrons at specific sites via online information collected by computers, or providing games and amusements to unspecific patrons via compact discs, floppy discs, hard discs, and cartridge devices together with computers.
Article 4 Computer games are to be classified into two ratings: 1.General 2.Restricted Computer games shall be classified as Restricted when contents are of one of the following: 1.To produce or display suicide, drug abuse, violence, bloodiness, or perversity. 2.With human genitals in the nude or depiction of sexual intercourses, but yet to such an extent that violate regulations stipulated in Criminal Code, Anti-sexual Business Provisions for Children and Teenagers, and Social Order Act. 3.With other conspicuous misconducts.
Article 5 When controversy arises over whether or not the computer games provided by the computer game providers should be classified as Restricted, the game providers may submit of their own accord the games to private professional organizations for identification certified by Department of Information (hereinafter referred to as DOI), Taipei Municipal Government, or to be identified by an examination committee organized by DOI.
Chapter 2 Registration
Article 6 Incorporated computer game providers shall attach to the application forms certificates stating that locations of the business sites conforming to zoning regulations in urban planning, and structures, facilities, and purposes of the building conforming to regulations in Building Act. Regulations in the preceding paragraph also apply when companies applying for registration of alternation of business items.
Article 7 The competent authority, when accepts applications from computer game providers for registration of incorporation, change of locations, and reopening businesses, shall co-examine with other government agencies in charge of taxes and levies, urban planning, building administration, fire fighting, and hygiene in accordance with regulations stipulated in relevant laws and decrees before granting approval of registration. Regulations in the preceding paragraph also apply when profit-seeking enterprises applying for alternation registration of adding business items of computer games.
Article 8 Business sites of computer game providers shall adjoin roads with more than eight meters in width, and shall be at a distance of more than two hundred meters from senior high schools, senior vocational schools, junior high schools, and elementary schools. using two nearest points at respective borderline of the two building sites.
Article 9 Once being approved for registration of suspension, computer game providers shall not carry on business unless having applied and been approved for registration of reopening business.
Chapter 3 Management
Article 10 Those have not applied for registration of profit-seeking enterprises in accordance with this Self-Government Ordinance shall not conduct businesses on computer games.
Article 11 Computer game providers shall abide by the following: 1.Shall not admit people less than fifteen years of age, unless accompanied by parent(s) or guardian(s), into the business sites. 2.Shall not provide computer games with contents classified as Restricted to people less than eighteen years of age. 3.Business sites shall be partitioned as Area of General Games and Area of Restricted Games. People less than eighteen years of age shall not be admitted into Area of Restricted Games. 4.Shall not involve with gambling, offense acts against morals and manners (customs), or other criminal offenses. 5.Shall not redeem or provide trophies. 6.Shall not provide computer games with various functions of starting bonuses, deposit bonuses or multiplication, with the characteristics of putting up stakes or lottery. 7.Shall not install computer controller(s) or counter(s) with various functions of starting bonuses, deposit bonuses, or accumulation, or equivalents. 8.Shall not conduct entrance control and set up box seats. Partition screens, when necessary, shall be removable and open to public access. 9.Company license and certificate of profit-seeking enterprise shall be suspended in conspicuous places. 10.Smoking shall not be allowed in business sites. Signs prohibiting smoking shall be installed in conspicuous places. 11.Concentration of carbon dioxide shall be kept under 0.15%. 12.A 15 minute average indoor Equivalent Sound Pressure in business sites shall not exceed 85 dBA, while maximum sound level at any given instant shall not exceed 115 dBA. 13.The indoor illumination of business sites shall be kept above 300 LLX. 14.Scripts, pictures, or aphorisms reminding consumers to rest their eyes and excise their bodies on a regular basis shall be marked in business sites.
Article 12 Computer game providers shall not admit people less than eighteen years of age into business sites from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and from 10 p.m. to 8 a.m. the next day Monday through Friday, and from 10 p.m. to 8 a.m. the next day during Saturdays and official holidays. Computer game providers shall mark aphorisms of the preceding paragraph in conspicuous places at the entrance.
Article 13 Computer game providers shall install anti-gambling, anti-pornography servers or relevant computer software/hardware checked, tested, and approved by telecom or the competent authority, and Closed Circuit Television surveillance systems. Closed Circuit Television surveillance systems shall be in operation throughout business hours taking in the whole site. Videotaped data shall be kept for a specific period and supply to relevant government organizations for viewing against any accidental happenings. The specific period stated in the preceding paragraph shall be prescribed by the competent authority.
Article 14 Computers in business sites of the computer game providers shall be equipped with installations to store the historical files of viewed web pages and shall be put into action during business hours. The historical files of viewed web pages shall be kept for a specific period and supply to relevant government organizations for viewing against any accidental happenings. Neither alternation nor deletion shall be made during such period. The specific period stated in the preceding paragraph shall be prescribed by the competent authority.
Article 15 The competent authority may dispatch personnel to examine the operation of computer game providers. Owners of the computer game provider, managers of the business sites, and employees shall not evade, interfere with, or reject such examination. During the examination stated in the preceding paragraph, the competent authority may, when it is necessary, co-examine the operation with relevant government organizations in charge of taxes and levies, urban planning, building administration, police, fire fighting, environment conservation, hygiene, press office, education, social welfare, labor inspection, and information center.
Chapter 4 Penalties
Article 16 Violations of regulations stipulated in the third paragraph of Article 4, Article 9, and Article 10, apart from otherwise governed by Business Registration Act which shall be followed, a fine of between ten thousand and fifty thousand New Taiwan dollars shall be imposed, and a strict injunction shall be given to cease operation. With offenses stated in the preceding paragraph, the fine, as stated in the preceding paragraph, in addition to be imposed on the computer game providers, may also be imposed on the owners or the offenders.
Article 17 Violations of regulations stipulated in the first, the second, and the latter part of the third sub-sections of Article 11, a fine of between fifty thousand and one hundred thousand New Taiwan dollars shall be imposed, and a time limit shall be set for improvement. If no improvement can be identified within the time limit, in addition to processing in accordance with Administrative Enforcement Act, a punishment may be given to cease the operation for a period of between one month and three months. Violations of regulations stipulated in the former part of the third sub-sections of Article 11, a fine of between ten thousand and thirty thousand New Taiwan dollars shall be imposed, and a time limit shall be set for improvement. If no improvement can be identified within the time limit, in addition to processing in accordance with Administrative Enforcement Act, a punishment may be given to cease the operation for a period of between one month and three months. With offenses stated in the preceding first and second paragraphs, the fine, as stated in the preceding first and second paragraphs, in addition to be imposed on the computer game providers, may also be imposed on the owners or the offenders.
Article 18 Violations of regulations stipulated in the fourth or the fifth sub-sections of Article 11, a fine of between thirty thousand and one hundred thousand New Taiwan dollars shall be imposed, and a punishment may be given to cease the operation for a period of between one month and six months. With offenses stated in the preceding paragraph, the fine, as stated in the preceding paragraph, in addition to be imposed on the computer game providers, may also be imposed on the owners or the offenders.
Article 19 Violations of regulations stipulated in the sixth or the seventh sub-sections of Article 11, a fine of between thirty thousand and one hundred thousand New Taiwan dollars shall be imposed, and a time limit shall be set for improvement. If no improvement can be identified within the time limit, in addition to processing in accordance with Administrative Enforcement Act, a punishment may be given to cease the operation for a period of between one month and three months. With offenses stated in the preceding paragraph, the fine, as stated in the preceding paragraph, in addition to be imposed on the computer game providers, may also be imposed on the owners or the offenders.
Article 20 Violations of regulations stipulated in the eighth or ninth sub-sections of Article 11, a fine of between ten thousand and thirty thousand New Taiwan dollars shall be imposed, and a time limit shall be set for improvement. If no improvement can be identified within the time limit, offenses shall be dealt with in accordance with Administrative Enforcement Act. With offenses stated in the preceding paragraph, the fine, as stated in the preceding paragraph, in addition to be imposed on the computer game providers, may also be imposed on the owners or the offenders.
Article 21 Violations of regulations stipulated in the tenth sub-section of Article 11, smoking in the business sites and refusing to cooperate even after being dissuaded, a fine of between one thousand and three thousand New Taiwan dollars shall be imposed. The Computer game providers, if fail to dissuade offenders from smoking, shall be imposed a fine of between ten thousand and thirty thousand New Taiwan dollars. The Computer game providers, if fail to install signs prohibiting smoking, shall be imposed a fine f between ten thousand and thirty thousand New Taiwan dollars, and a time limit shall be set for improvement. If no improvement can be identified within the time limit, offenses shall be dealt with in accordance with Administrative Enforcement Act. With offenses stated in the preceding first and second paragraphs, the fine, as stated in the preceding paragraphs, in addition to be imposed on the computer game providers, may also be imposed on the owners or the offenders.
Article 22 Violations of regulations stipulated in the eleventh sub-section of Article 11, shall be punished in accordance with regulations stipulated in Taipei Municipal Ordinance for Management of Hygiene in Business Sites.
Article 23 Violations of regulations stipulated in the twelfth or the thirteenth sub-sections of Article 11, a fine of between thirty thousand and fifty thousand New Taiwan dollars shall be imposed. With offenses stated in the preceding paragraph, the fine, as stated in the preceding paragraph, in addition to be imposed on the computer game providers, may also be imposed on the owners or the offenders.
Article 24 Violations of regulations stipulated in the fourteenth sub-section of Article 11, a time limit shall be given for improvement. If no improvement can be identified within the time limit, a fine of between three thousand and fifteen thousand New Taiwan dollars shall be imposed. With offenses stated in the preceding paragraph, the fine, as stated in the preceding paragraph, in addition to be imposed on the computer game providers, may also be imposed on the owners or the offenders.
Article 25 Violations of regulations stipulated in the first paragraph of Article 12, a fine of between thirty thousand and one hundred thousand New Taiwan dollars shall be imposed, and a time limit shall be set for improvement. If no improvement can be identified within the time limit, in addition to processing in accordance with Administrative Enforcement Act, a punishment may be given to cease the operation for a period of between one month and three months. Violations of regulations stipulated in the second paragraph of Article 12, a fine of between ten thousand and thirty thousand New Taiwan dollars shall be imposed, and a time limit shall be set for improvement. If no improvement can be identified within the time limit, in addition to processing in accordance with Administrative Enforcement Act, a punishment may be given to cease the operation for a period of between one month and three months. With offenses stated in the preceding paragraph, the fine, as stated in the preceding paragraph, in addition to be imposed on the computer game providers, may also be imposed on the owners or the offenders.
Article 26 Violations of regulations stipulated in Article 13, a fine of between ten thousand and fifty thousand New Taiwan dollars shall be imposed, and a time limit shall be set for improvement. If no improvement can be identified within the time limit, offenses shall be dealt with in accordance with Administrative Enforcement Act. With offenses stated in the preceding paragraph, the fine, as stated in the preceding paragraph, in addition to be imposed on the computer game providers, may also be imposed on the owners or the offenders.
Article 27 Violations of regulations stipulated in Article 14, a fine of between ten thousand and fifty thousand New Taiwan dollars shall be imposed, and a time limit shall be set for improvement. If no improvement can be identified within the time limit, offenses shall be dealt with in accordance with Administrative Enforcement Act. If records of pornography or gambling web pages are discovered in the historical files of viewed web pages, the computer game providers shall be imposed a fine of between ten thousand and thirty thousand New Taiwan dollars. With offenses stated in the preceding first and second paragraphs, the fine, as stated in the preceding first and second paragraph, in addition to be imposed on the computer game providers, may also be imposed on the owners or the offenders.
Article 28 Violations of regulations stipulated in the first sub-section of Article 15, a fine of between ten thousand and thirty thousand New Taiwan dollars shall be imposed. With offenses stated in the preceding paragraph, the fine, as stated in the preceding paragraph, in addition to be imposed on the computer game providers, may also be imposed on the owners or the offenders.
Chapter 5 Ancillary Provision
Article 29 The competent authority shall not accept applications with owners of the new profit-seeking enterprises same as those of enterprises as governed by this Self-Government Ordinance, prior to the fines imposed in accordance with this Self-Government Ordinance are fully paid-in.
Article 30 Fines imposed in accordance with this Self-Government Ordinance, after being notified of the time limit of payment, if fail to pay within that time limit, shall be referred to other government agencies for compulsory execution in accordance with law.
Article 31 This Self-Government Ordinance will come into effect on the date of promulgation. Computer game providers having started business prior to the promulgation of this Self-Government Ordinance shall complete registration in accordance with regulations stipulated in Chapter Two within one year after this Self-Government Ordinance comes into effect. Regulations in Article 16 shall not apply prior to the completion of registration.