MUMBAI: Some of the prominent internet service providers in China have signed the "Chinavnet Copyright Self-Discipline Convention".

By inking the deal ISPs including CITVC (China Internet TV Company), Baidu, Sina (SINA), Sohu (SOHU), Shanda (SNDA) and Shanghai Orient have promised to counter "network piracy" issues and strongly support "legal content" to push the standardization of Internet services in China.

The number of Internet users in China surpassed 94 million by the end of 2004, recording a year-on-year growth of 18.2 per cent. At 7.2 percent of China's population of 1.3 billion, the number of Internet users is relatively small, but growing fast.

According to a survey conducted by China Internet Network Information Center in July 2004, China has 39.4 per cent female netizens compared to 60.6 per cent for the male segment.