In a significant blow to online piracy, Fmovies, a leading pirate streaming site, has been shut down. This recent development comes amidst a broader crackdown that also saw the takedown of AniWave. Today, it has been revealed that the Alliance for Creativity and Entertainment (ACE) played a pivotal role in assisting Vietnamese authorities with the shutdown of this extensive piracy network. Additionally, the Vietnamese government is preparing for a promotional tour in Hollywood.
The Fall of Fmovies and Its Impact
Pirate streaming sites often rise and fall quickly, but recent months have seen an increase in high-profile closures. Established in 2016, Fmovies has become a notorious entity in the piracy world, evading various legal actions. Despite attempts to block the site, Fmovies continued to operate, prompting the Motion Picture Association (MPA) to seek more effective measures.
Last year, MPA Senior Executive Vice President Karyn Temple demonstrated to U.S. Congress how Fmovies facilitated illegal streaming of the latest movies and TV shows, even within highly secure environments. Faced with the slow pace of legislative changes, the MPA’s strategy was site blocking, but Fmovies and its affiliated sites persisted longer than anticipated.
The Unexpected Demise of Fmovies
By June, Fmovies began showing signs of decline, with new content no longer appearing. Shortly after, the site disappeared entirely without any official explanation. This shutdown triggered a cascade effect: related streaming sites also went offline, often redirecting to new portals that soon disappeared as well. These sites, including Bflixz, which had ties to Vietnam and earlier piracy site 123Movies, showcased the extensive network’s reach.
The recent wave of piracy site closures also affected AniWave, a prominent anime piracy platform, significantly reducing the volume of piracy traffic worldwide.
ACE and Vietnamese Authorities Take Charge
Initially, the exact reasons behind these shutdowns were unclear. However, the involvement of ACE and MPA, who frequently visited Vietnam, suggested that they were central to the operation. Today, ACE confirmed that their collaboration with Hanoi Police was crucial in dismantling the Fmovies network and its related sites, such as AniWave, Bflixz, Flixtorz, Movies7, and Myflixer.
ACE reported that this operation was the largest piracy ring ever, amassing over 6.7 billion visits between January 2023 and June 2024. Additionally, the Fmovies network was linked 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 major victory for the global creative community. He highlighted the effectiveness of international collaboration in countering piracy and protecting the rights of creators.
Looking Ahead: Collaboration and Future Actions
Although the takedown was successful, specific details about arrests or further actions against the operators are not yet available. Larissa Knapp, MPA Executive Vice President, expressed hope for continued cooperation between Vietnamese and U.S. authorities to tackle intellectual property violations.
Vietnam and the U.S. are strengthening their partnership, with U.S. Ambassador Marc E. Knapper emphasizing the importance of intellectual property rights in their comprehensive relationship. As the Vietnamese film industry transitions to a more private-sector-driven model, protecting intellectual property is seen as crucial for its growth.
Vietnam’s U.S. Promotion Initiative
In a related effort, Vietnam is planning a Cinema and Tourism Promotion Program in the U.S. to leverage Hollywood’s influence and boost Vietnamese tourism. Scheduled events in Los Angeles later this year aim to attract American tourists and showcase Vietnam as a potential film location.
The Motion Picture Association will also play a role in this promotion, with an industry representative set to speak at the event. While the direct benefits for the MPA are not specified, the recent dismantling of the Fmovies piracy ring will likely enhance the success of this promotional initiative.
Overall, the collaboration between Vietnam and the U.S., coupled with recent successes in combating piracy, reflects a strong commitment to protecting intellectual property and fostering cultural exchange.
