Providers of stock images pull sites that falsely claim copyrights

The national copyright watchdog will launch a special campaign to further regulate image copyrights after Visual China Group - the country's leading stock image and media footage provider - came under fire over false copyright claims.

"The administration attaches great importance to the protection of image copyrights and safeguards the legitimate rights and interests of copyright owners," the National Copyright Administration said in a statement on Friday.

"However, companies must improve the copyright management mechanism and handle copyrights according to law, not abusing them," it said.