Major piracy site Fmovies shut down in Vietnam: A victory for the creative industry
A significant blow to online piracy
In a landmark operation, Fmovies, one of the largest pirate streaming operators globally, has been taken down by the Hanoi Police in Vietnam. This action was coordinated with the Alliance for Creativity and Entertainment (ACE), an industry anti-piracy group led by the Motion Picture Association (MPA). The shutdown not only disabled Fmovies but also affected hundreds of its affiliated piracy sites, including bflixz, movies7, myflixer, and heymovies. Additionally, the notorious video hosting provider Vidsrc.to, operated by the same suspects, was also taken down.
The scale of Fmovies’ operations
Launched in 2016, Fmovies quickly became a major player in the piracy world. Between January 2023 and June 2024, the Fmovies network attracted over 6.7 billion visits. At its peak in 2023, Fmovies was the 11th most popular website globally in the TV, movies, and streaming category. The site has been listed on the U.S. Trade Representative’s “notorious markets” list for counterfeiting and piracy since 2017, with more than 60 associated domains used for significant piracy operations.
A victory for the creative community
Charles Rivkin, CEO of the Motion Picture Association and chairman of ACE, hailed the takedown as a “stunning victory for casts, crews, writers, directors, studios, and the creative community across the globe.” He emphasized that this operation marks a shift from the old “Whac-a-Mole” approach to a more strategic effort to tackle piracy at its root.
Rivkin also highlighted the collaboration with the Ministry of Public Security and the Hanoi Municipal Police, which played a crucial role in this operation. He noted that shutting down piracy sites not only protects the rights and livelihoods of creators but also ensures the safety of audiences by reducing the risks posed to tens of millions of consumers.
The impact on legitimate streaming services
The MPA has long argued that shutting down piracy sites leads to an increase in traffic to legitimate streaming services. A study from 2013 by Carnegie Mellon researchers found that after the shutdown of the file-sharing site Megaupload, two studios’ digital movie revenue across 12 countries increased by 6.5%-8.5% over an 18-week period.
Rivkin pointed out that many consumers who visit piracy sites like Fmovies may not even realize that what they are doing is illegal. These sites often have a clean and professional appearance, making them seem as legitimate as platforms like Netflix. This deceptive appearance underscores the importance of public awareness and education about the risks and illegality of using such sites.
Strengthening intellectual property rights
The takedown of Fmovies sends a powerful deterrent message, according to Larissa Knapp, the MPA’s executive vice president and chief content protection officer. She expressed optimism about continued collaboration with Vietnamese authorities, U.S. Homeland Security Investigations, and the Justice Department’s International Computer Hacking and Intellectual Property program to bring the criminal operators to justice.
Marc E. Knapper, U.S. ambassador to Vietnam, emphasized that strengthening intellectual property rights is a key element of the U.S.-Vietnam Comprehensive Partnership. He noted that these prosecutions demonstrate Vietnam’s commitment to intellectual property rights enforcement, contributing to an economic ecosystem where creators and inventors can thrive.
The future of Vietnam’s movie industry
Ngo Phuong Lan, chairwoman of the Vietnam Film Development Association (VFDA), commented on the pivotal stage of development for the Vietnamese movie industry. She highlighted the transition from a state-subsidized production model to a rapidly growing phase driven by private-sector involvement. Intellectual property rights protection is crucial for the industry’s success, and the VFDA strongly supports the efforts of ACE and Vietnamese authorities in combating the serious infringing activities of the Fmovies operators.
The role of ACE in combating piracy
Established in 2017, the Alliance for Creativity and Entertainment includes more than 50 media and entertainment companies and associations worldwide. The current governing board members for ACE are major industry players such as Amazon, Apple TV+, Netflix, Paramount Global, Sony Pictures, Universal Studios, Walt Disney Studios, and Warner Bros. Discovery.
The takedown of Fmovies is a significant milestone in the ongoing battle against digital piracy. It underscores the importance of international cooperation and the need for robust intellectual property rights enforcement to protect the creative industry and ensure its continued growth and innovation.