Vietnam Shuts Down Global Piracy Giant Fmovies in Landmark Crackdown
Hanoi, Vietnam – In a significant victory for the global film and entertainment industry, Vietnamese authorities have successfully shut down Fmovies, one of the world’s largest illegal movie streaming websites. The operation, conducted in collaboration with the Alliance for Creativity and Entertainment (ACE), marks a major escalation in the ongoing battle against online piracy in Vietnam and beyond. This breaking news underscores a growing commitment to protecting intellectual property rights and ensuring a sustainable future for content creators.
From Local Startup to Global Threat
Launched in 2016 and based in Hanoi, Fmovies rapidly grew into a massive operation, attracting over 6.7 billion visits between January 2023 and June 2024, according to ACE reports. At its peak, the site ranked as the 11th most popular website globally for TV, movies and streaming content. Alongside Fmovies, related illegal sites like bflixz, flixtorz, movies7, myflixer, and aniwave were also targeted. The site’s popularity stemmed from offering a vast library of movies and TV shows, including the latest blockbusters, for free – a compelling alternative to paid streaming services like Netflix and Disney+.
The Cost of Free Content: Billions Lost to Piracy
The proliferation of these illegal streaming sites isn’t a victimless crime. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce estimates that digital piracy causes tens of billions of dollars in losses and over 230,000 job losses annually in the U.S. Alone. In Vietnam, the problem is particularly acute, with the country identified as having one of the highest rates of digital piracy in the Asia Pacific region. A 2021 survey revealed that 60% of Vietnamese consumers access copyright-infringing websites, and 21% use unauthorized streaming devices. Before its shutdown, Fmovies alone was reportedly generating up to $170,000 (approximately VND4.2 billion) per month from advertising revenue.
A Persistent Problem: The Ever-Evolving Landscape of Piracy
Cracking down on these operations is a constant challenge. Illegal movie websites, particularly Phimmoi.net (one of the oldest in Vietnam, dating back to the early 2010s and once the 22nd most popular site in the country), are notoriously resilient. Even after being shut down, they frequently reappear under new domain names – Phimmoizz.net, Phimmoizzz.net, Phimmoii.org, zPhimmoi.tv, and others – demonstrating a sophisticated ability to evade authorities. This persistence highlights the need for ongoing vigilance and international cooperation.
ACE Leads the Charge, Vietnam Responds
The Alliance for Creativity and Entertainment (ACE), representing major players in the film and entertainment industry like Amazon, Apple TV+, Netflix, and Warner Bros. Discovery, has been instrumental in combating online piracy globally. In August 2024, ACE collaborated with Hanoi police, leading to the arrest of two Vietnamese men connected to the Fmovies operation. This follows earlier successes in Vietnam, including a 2021 criminal case against the founder of Phimmoi.net and a 2024 ruling against operators of bilutvt.net, tvhayh.org, and hlss.pro.
Beyond Enforcement: A Broader Commitment to Intellectual Property
The Vietnamese government is demonstrating a growing commitment to protecting intellectual property rights. The Ministry of Information and Communication and the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism have established dedicated departments to combat copyright infringement. U.S. Ambassador to Vietnam Mark E. Knapper emphasized that this action “demonstrates Vietnam’s firm commitment to protecting intellectual property rights and will contribute to creating an economic ecosystem where innovators and creators can thrive.” The dismantling of Fmovies is seen as a powerful deterrent and a step towards fostering a more legitimate and sustainable digital entertainment landscape in Vietnam.
As Larissa Knapp, MPA’s vice president and director of content protection, noted, this is not simply about shutting down one website; it’s about sending a clear message that online piracy will not be tolerated. The ongoing collaboration between international organizations like ACE and Vietnamese authorities signals a determined effort to protect the creative economy and ensure that content creators are fairly compensated for their work.
