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Following its launch in 2016, Fmovies presented a major threat to Hollywood and after years online, it was one that seemed near impossible to defeat.<\/p>\nFollowing its launch in 2016, Fmovies presented a major threat to Hollywood and after years online, it was one that seemed near impossible to defeat.<\/p>\n
The site\u2019s operators were linked to dozens of popular pirate sites, together generating billions of visits annually.<\/p>\n
While the MPA\u2019s anti-piracy flagship ACE tied the operation to Vietnam early on, an effective shutdown proved to be unusually complicated. In addition to gathering intelligence, Hollywood\u2019s diplomatic powers were required to force a breakthrough.<\/p>\n
Last summer, these efforts paid off handsomely; or so it appeared. After the main Fmovies site fell apart in July<\/a>, related streaming portals including Bflix, Aniwave, and Zorox fell like dominoes in the weeks after, with ACE taking partial credit<\/a> for the closures. <\/p>\n The enforcement action didn\u2019t stop there. Vietnamese authorities eventually arrested two suspects in the case; Phan Th\u00e0nh C\u00f4ng, who allegedly ran Fmovies between 2016 and 2024, and Nguyen Tuan Anh, an accomplice who allegedly uploaded 50,000 videos.<\/p>\n The arrests, paired with follow-up confessions<\/a> by both men, appeared to be great news for Hollywood and other rightsholders. However, the question remained whether others would be deterred from operating similar piracy rings in Vietnam.<\/p>\n Earlier this week, the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR<\/a>) published its latest Special 301 Report, highlighting countries that fail to live up to U.S. copyright protection standards. Despite the Fmovies crackdown, Vietnam remains a prime concern.<\/p>\n The USTR writes that Vietnam remains on its \u201cWatch List\u201d since there has been little or no progress on many other intellectual property concerns. At the same time, doubts remain over the effectiveness of local anti-piracy prosecutions.<\/p>\n The USTR highlights two successful criminal convictions last year; one against the operator of BestBuyIPTV<\/a>, and another targeting the admins<\/a> of Bilutv.net, Tvhayh.org, and Hiss.pro. While these convictions were rare for Vietnam, they resulted in relatively mild suspended sentences.<\/p>\n These prosecutions don\u2019t appear to have sent shockwaves to other pirate site operators in the country, USTR notes, adding that Vietnam is seen as a piracy haven.<\/p>\n \u201c[E]ven with recent law enforcement actions, Vietnam remains a leading source of online piracy and continues to host some of the most popular English-language copyright infringement sites and services in the world, targeting a global audience,\u201d USTR writes.<\/p>\n \u201cThe operators of these sites and services are believed to operate from Vietnam in part because of the perception that the country is a haven for online piracy.\u201d<\/p>\n The MPA and ACE previously characterized the Fmovies shutdown as a \u201cstunning victory\u201d but they too must be frustrated with the lack of change in the local piracy landscape. Just a few months ago, the MPA listed Hianime and 2embed<\/a> as notorious pirate operations; both sites are believed to operate from Vietnam.<\/p>\n At the same time, there are serious doubts<\/a> that prosecutions will lead to convictions that are sufficient to deter other pirate site operators. This includes the prospect of financial penalties that may seem low relative to the scale of the operation.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n The USTR sees the challenges ahead, and it urges Vietnam to step up its enforcement game. This includes more prosecutions of pirate site operators as well as tougher punishments, including prison sentences and steep fines. <\/p>\n \u201cIn order to have a deterrent effect, Vietnam enforcement authorities should bring more criminal cases against significant piracy sites and consider seeking prison sentences, monetary fines, and other criminal penalties at the higher levels that are available under Vietnamese law,\u201d USTR writes.<\/p>\n This recommendation must be music to the ears of the MPA and the Hollywood group did indeed welcome the USTR report.<\/p>\n \u201cThe MPA commends the team at USTR and its interagency partners for identifying harmful practices, combating copyright infringement in foreign markets, and renewing its commitment to countering digital piracy worldwide,\u201d MPA CEO Charles Rivkin says.<\/p>\n MPA\u2019s comments don\u2019t mention Vietnam or the Fmovies case, however. This is understandable, as there are likely diplomatic talks in progress behind the scenes. While the U.S. has recently shown that playing offense can be one strategy to get things done, sometimes a more subtle approach can still be preferred. <\/p>\n \u2014<\/em><\/p>\n A copy of the USTR\u2019s full 2025 Special 301 Report is available here (pdf)<\/a>.<\/p>\n From: TF<\/a>, for the latest news on copyright battles, piracy and more.<\/p>\nUSTR: Vietnam Perceived as a Piracy Haven<\/h2>\n
Stunning Victory or Token Gesture?<\/h2>\n
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