Fmovies, a prominent pirate streaming site, has recently been taken offline, marking a significant victory in the fight against online piracy. This shutdown follows a series of similar actions, including the closure of AniWave. Today, it has been confirmed that the Alliance for Creativity and Entertainment (ACE) worked closely with Vietnamese authorities to dismantle this extensive piracy ring. Additionally, Vietnam is preparing for a promotional tour in Hollywood.
The Decline of Fmovies and Its Effects
Pirate streaming sites are known for their fleeting existence, but recent months have seen an uptick in major closures. Launched in 2016, Fmovies had become a major player in the piracy landscape, persistently evading legal efforts. The Motion Picture Association (MPA) had attempted to address the issue through site blocking, but the slow pace of legislative change allowed Fmovies to continue its operations.
In a presentation to U.S. Congress last year, MPA Senior Executive Vice President Karyn Temple demonstrated how Fmovies facilitated illegal streaming of the latest movies and TV shows within highly secure settings. The MPA’s strategy to block these sites faced delays, leaving Fmovies and its affiliated platforms operational longer than anticipated.
Fmovies’ Sudden Disappearance
In June, Fmovies began to show signs of decline, with no new content being added. Shortly afterwards, the site vanished completely, leaving no official statement from its operators. This shutdown led to a ripple effect, with several related streaming sites also going offline, often redirecting users to new sites that soon disappeared. The closure of these sites, including Bflixz, which had connections to Vietnam and the now-defunct 123Movies, highlighted the vast network’s influence.
The recent takedown also extended to AniWave, a major anime piracy site, resulting in a significant reduction in piracy traffic globally.
ACE and Vietnamese Authorities’ Role
Initially, the specific reasons behind these shutdowns were unclear. However, the involvement of ACE and MPA, who had been frequently visiting Vietnam, suggested a coordinated effort. ACE has now confirmed that they worked with Hanoi Police to shut down the Fmovies network and associated sites, including AniWave, Bflixz, Flixtorz, Movies7, and Myflixer.
ACE reported that this operation was the largest piracy ring ever dismantled, attracting over 6.7 billion visits between January 2023 and June 2024. The Fmovies network was also linked to Vidsrc.to, a video hosting service that recently went offline, affecting many smaller piracy sites.
Charles Rivkin, CEO of the MPA and Chairman of ACE, hailed the takedown as a major triumph for the global entertainment industry. He praised the international collaboration that made the operation possible and emphasized the importance of protecting creators’ rights.
Future Actions and Collaborative Efforts
While the takedown was a success, details about arrests or further legal actions against the operators are still pending. Larissa Knapp, MPA Executive Vice President, expressed optimism about future joint efforts between Vietnamese and U.S. authorities to combat intellectual property crimes.
The collaboration 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 partnership. As the Vietnamese film industry evolves towards a more private-sector-driven model, effective intellectual property protection is crucial for its growth.
Vietnam’s U.S. Tourism Promotion Plan
In a related development, Vietnam is launching a Cinema and Tourism Promotion Program in the U.S., aiming to leverage Hollywood’s influence to boost Vietnamese tourism. Scheduled events in Los Angeles later this year will seek to attract American tourists and promote Vietnam as a film location.
The Motion Picture Association will participate in this promotional effort, with an industry representative scheduled to speak at the event. Although the specific benefits for the MPA are not detailed, the recent success in shutting down the Fmovies piracy ring is likely to enhance the effectiveness of this promotional initiative.
Overall, the partnership between Vietnam and the U.S., coupled with recent achievements in fighting piracy, underscores a strong commitment to safeguarding intellectual property and fostering cultural exchange.
