In a significant victory in the fight against online piracy, the well-known pirate streaming site Fmovies has been taken offline. This development follows a series of recent high-profile closures, including AniWave. The Alliance for Creativity and Entertainment (ACE) has confirmed its crucial role in assisting Vietnamese authorities with the dismantling of this extensive piracy network. Meanwhile, the Vietnamese government is planning a promotional tour in Hollywood to further its cultural and tourism goals.
The Fall of Fmovies and Its Repercussions
Pirate streaming sites are notorious for their transient nature, but recent months have seen an increase in notable shutdowns. Since its inception in 2016, Fmovies has become a major player in the piracy scene, consistently evading various legal measures. Although the Motion Picture Association (MPA) attempted to combat the site through blocking, the slow legislative process allowed Fmovies to persist longer than desired.
A demonstration to U.S. Congress by MPA Senior Executive Vice President Karyn Temple last year highlighted how easily Fmovies facilitated the illegal streaming of new movies and TV shows, even within highly secure environments. Faced with the limitations of site blocking, the MPA sought more immediate solutions.
The Unexpected End of Fmovies
By June, Fmovies began to show signs of decline, with updates and new content halting. Within weeks, the site disappeared completely, leaving no official statement from its operators. This shutdown triggered a chain reaction: related streaming sites also went offline, often redirecting users to new platforms that quickly vanished. The closure of these sites, including Bflixz, which had ties to Vietnam and the defunct 123Movies, underscored the extensive network’s reach.
The takedown also impacted AniWave, a major anime piracy site, resulting in a dramatic reduction in global piracy traffic.
ACE and Vietnamese Authorities Take Action
Initially, the specifics behind these shutdowns were unclear, but frequent visits by ACE and MPA to Vietnam suggested a coordinated effort. Today, ACE has confirmed that they worked alongside Hanoi Police to dismantle the Fmovies network and its associated sites, including AniWave, Bflixz, Flixtorz, Movies7, and Myflixer.
ACE reported that the operation was the largest piracy ring ever taken down, with over 6.7 billion visits recorded between January 2023 and June 2024. The Fmovies network was also connected to Vidsrc.to, a video hosting service that recently went offline, affecting numerous smaller piracy sites.
Charles Rivkin, CEO of the MPA and Chairman of ACE, praised the takedown as a significant win for the global entertainment industry. He commended the international cooperation that made this operation possible and stressed the importance of protecting the rights of creators.
Looking Ahead: Ongoing Collaborations
Although the takedown was a notable success, details about arrests or further legal actions against the operators are still pending. Larissa Knapp, MPA Executive Vice President, expressed optimism about continued joint efforts between Vietnamese and U.S. authorities to tackle intellectual property crimes.
The partnership between Vietnam and the U.S. is also set to strengthen, with U.S. Ambassador Marc E. Knapper highlighting the role of intellectual property rights in their comprehensive relationship. As Vietnam’s film industry transitions towards more private-sector involvement, effective intellectual property protection is seen as essential for its growth.
Vietnam’s U.S. Cinema and Tourism Promotion
In a related initiative, Vietnam is launching a Cinema and Tourism Promotion Program in the U.S. The goal is to leverage Hollywood’s influence to attract American tourists and promote Vietnam as a prime film location. Events in Los Angeles later this year will focus on these objectives.
The Motion Picture Association will also be involved in this promotional effort, with a representative set to speak at the event. While the specific benefits of the MPA are not detailed, the successful dismantling of the Fmovies piracy ring is expected to boost the effectiveness of this initiative.
Overall, the collaboration between Vietnam and the U.S., coupled with recent successes in combating piracy, underscores a robust commitment to protecting intellectual property and fostering international cultural exchange.