China's top court issued a guideline on Thursday clarifying how to deal with civil disputes caused by infringements via the Internet.

The guideline, which has been in preparation for about two years, states that anyone who prevents others from obtaining information by asking a company or individual to delete posts should be held responsible, and the deleted information will be reinstated.

Any company or individual helping clients delete or distort online information will also be punished, according to the guideline from the Supreme People's Court.

Sun Jungong, spokesman of the court, said such actions are illegal and have become a "grey industry" that damages Internet development.

People who post incorrect information and those who accept payment to delete posts often have superior computing skills, which helps the grey industry to boom, Sun said.

The guideline will come into effect from Friday.