(Yicai Global) Feb. 8 -- China has finalized its anti-monopoly guidelines for internet companies three months after releasing them as a draft for consultation.

The rules help determine what counts as unfair market practices, covering market share, excessive control via financial and technical conditions, and market entry, according to a document the State Administration for Market Regulation published on its website yesterday.

The results have been quick to show. The SAMR said today that it has handed e-commerce player Vipshop Holdings a CNY3 million (USD464,580) fine for unfair competition after the platform collected information on brands to its advantage.

The government has been tightening control over internet firms with the new regulations and court cases as many vendors have divulged platform-imposed restrictions on them partnering with other e-commerce outlets. 

One new legal case is in the pipeline. The Beijing Intellectual Property Court accepted a case filed by ByteDance's Chinese version of TikTok against Tencent Holdings over alleged monopolistic behavior on the same day the guidelines were released.

But some verdicts were already out in the consultation phase. On Dec. 14, the bureau fined three companies, including Alibaba Investment, Tencent-backed China Literature, and Fengchao Network Technology, to the tune of CNY500,000 (USD77,422) each for failing to disclose linked equity purchases. 

The policy change provides scientific, effective and targeted rules for strengthening anti-monopoly supervision in the field of online economy, according to an official at the State Council's anti-monopoly commission. The rules will help the relevant agencies to unify standards and improve transparency, the person added.

The guidelines define illegal behaviors, including unfair pricing, setting prices below costs, refusal to deal, differential treatment, unreasonable trading conditions, and tie-in sales.

Considering Big Data usage, the document the SAMR released said each case requires assessment based on the sector's specific conditions.

Editor: Emmi Laine