Chinese map error proves costly for local ad firm

A Shanghai marketing company which used an incomplete and inaccurate map of China in an advertisement has been fined 1 million yuan (US$153,846) by the market watchdog in Jing’an District. 

Shanghai H&H Marketing and Consultation Co Ltd designed advertisements for high-speed trains and magazines for a property development company, and the map it used did not completely and accurately mark the nation’s boundary, to the detriment of national dignity and interests, according to the State Administration for Industry and Commerce of China. 

The company also did not fix the mistake in subsequent advertisements.

The law stipulates that advertisements should not harm national dignity or interests and violators can be fined up to 1 million yuan or lose their business licenses and advertisement publishing registration certificates. 

The company was fined 1 million yuan and had advertisement fees totaling 88,000 yuan confiscated by the Jing’an District Market Supervision and Management Bureau last month. 

Separately, Shanghai Zendai Financial Information Services Co Ltd was fined 600,000 yuan by the Pudong New Area Market Supervision and Management Bureau for promoting the rate of return of financial products on its app and website, also violations of advertising laws.