BEIJING, Jun. 30, 2009 (Kyodo News International) -- China postponed the mandatory order on the Internet-filtering software Green Dam-Youth Escort just hours before the controversial law was to come into effect, state media reported Wednesday.

China Daily, in a front page report, said the last minute move was announced late Tuesday by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, MIIT, citing concerns from some computer producers that ''such a massive installation demanded extra time.''

''Recently, some computer producers have raised concerns that preparations will be inadequate due to the massive workload and tight timeline,'' a statement published on the ministry's website said. ''In view of the ground situation, the installation can be postponed.''

The MIIT did not state when the order, which had originally required manufacturers to supply on disc or preinstall the software on computers sold in China starting July 1, will eventually come into force.

But it said it is soliciting suggestions from various parties on how to complete the software and will continue to provide free downloads of the software and continue its use in schools and cybercafes.

The initial announcement of the software ruling, which China says is meant to protect its young from accessing pornography and other undesirable content on the Internet, had been met with widespread criticism of privacy invasion and concern the filter will also allow the government to bar access to sensitive political content.

Questions have also been raised about the stability of the software, which is said to slow down the performance of computers, and there has been at least one claim of violation of intellectual property rights raised by a California-based company.