BEIJING – The Chinese government banned internet companies who offer free music without paying copyright dues, and warned of severe outcome if they fail to comply by end July, the country’s official press reported Friday.

The National Copyright Administration in China announced late Thursday the measure against internet music streaming services in a bid to clamp down on piracy and protect intellectual property.

The new regulation could affect platforms such as Xiami Music, owned by Alibaba, and Tenecet’s QQ Music, which offer free music and are widely popular among Chinese.

The regulatory body recognized the system could be improved to better protect copyright owners and restore confidence in the system.

Intellectual copyright infringements, common in China, have led to frequent disputes between the Asian giant and United States, European Union and Japan.

In recent years, Chinese authorities have taken steps to prevent copyright violations and in 2014 created special courts to deal with intellectual property cases.