On February 15, Regulations on Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) of Chongqing (hereinafter referred to as Regulations) was publicized on www.cq.gov.cn to look for public opinions.

According to the Regulations, Chongqing Municipal People’s Government should deploy ICH protection special funds to be used to investigate ICH resources, save dying ICHs, inherit and spread ICHs, research major ICH programs, protect ICHs in poverty-stricken areas and ethnic minority areas and reward ICH protection. Local governments can set up special funds to protect ICHs in accordance with regional situation of ICH protection.

In terms of legal obligation, if experts cheat in assessing ICH representative items and inheritors, intangible cultural ecological protection zone and Chongqing ICH town, they would be given a warning by cultural authorities and removed from the ICH expert pool and should not be hired as ICH expert within 3 years. Those who utilize ICHs in a distorted way or do not effectively protect ICHs will be ordered to suspend business for rectification and restore what IHCs were before. Responsible entities who bring serious consequences will be fined 10,000 yuan ~100,000 yuan and for responsible individuals, a fine of 1,000 yuan ~10,000 yuan will be given. Those suspected of a crime will be transferred to judicial organs for criminal responsibility.

（Source: IPR in China）