(Yicai Global) Dec. 10 -- Visual China Group, which runs the country's largest photo stock website, was ordered to temporarily suspend services to conduct 'self-rectification' just nine months after wrongly trying to claim copyright to the world's first-ever image of a black hole.

Chinese regulators today ordered the Beijing-based company to rectify its illegal involvement in internet news and information services, according to a statement posted on the Cyberspace Administration of China's website.

Visual China's website first went offline on April 12 after a public uproar over its attempt to claim copyright of the first black hole image and also because it was selling images of the national flag and emblem. The website came back online in May.

"To comply with relevant regulatory requirements," VCG's latest statement said, "VCG website will carry out comprehensive self-inspection and rectification from now on, and the website will suspend its services during the rectification."

VCG.com and another large photo website DFIC.cn, operated by IC Photo, engaged in internet news information services in violation of regulations and illegally engaged in internet news information services with overseas companies, the Cyberspace Administration of China said in a statement. 

The watchdog demanded that the two websites undergo comprehensive and thorough 'rectification.' The sites' managers said services will be halted from today.