China's top market regulator on Monday decided to fine the country's largest academic database over $12.58 million for monopolistic practices,

The decision was made after an antitrust probe launched back in May by the State Administration for Market Supervision (SAMR).

SAMR said in a statement that they found the database, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), abused its dominant position in the market to sell its services at unfairly high prices. Additionally, CNKI was found to have signed exclusive contracts with academic journals and universities, restricting them to use other service providers.

SAMR also ordered CNKI to rectify its illegal behavior.

CNKI's website offers services including online searches and downloads of most of China's academic journals, doctoral dissertations and masters' theses.

It came under SAMR's antitrust probe after Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), the country's top research institute, announced in April to stop using CNKI services due to high subscription fees.