China will narrow the meaning of "cybersquatters" and will now only use the term to refer to those who register Internet domain names and sell them to rivals of a company that owns the rights to the name.

According to the latest definition offered by the China Internet Network Information Center (CNNIC), the country's .CN domain name administrator, cybersquatters will no longer be referred to those who register a domain name "for the purpose of selling or renting it". It now refers to those who actually "sell or rent it to competitors of a company whose rights are infringed upon."

The definition came as part of a package of new rules set by the CNNIC in the hope of settling disputes over domain names, according to an anonymous official with the CNNIC.

The new rules, which will come into effect March 17, will safeguard the interest of the first registered domain name, following the common practice in the world, the official said.

"With the coming of the new rules, .CN domain names will be more orderly," said Hu Gang, an Internet expert.

According to sources from the CNNIC, there have been more than 1 million registered .CN domain names and the lowest cost for a month's use has plunged to 5 yuan (about 0.62 U.S. dollars).

Source: Xinhua