Vietnamese authorities have confirmed the prosecution of two men accused of running FMovies, a network of piracy websites once dominating the global streaming landscape. After confessing to their roles, Phan Thanh Cong and Nguyen Tuan Anh, both 34, now face charges following the collapse of the piracy empire that generated millions of illegal views and significant profits.
The Rise and Fall of FMovies
For nearly a decade, FMovies stood as a symbol of piracy resilience, boasting uninterrupted operations and a loyal user base. However, cracks began to appear in mid-2024. Content updates ceased in June, and by mid-July, the site and its affiliates vanished without explanation.
Confirmation came in late August when the Motion Picture Association (MPA) and Alliance for Creativity and Entertainment (ACE) announced their involvement in shutting down FMovies. Working with Hanoi Police, they targeted FMovies and affiliated platforms, including AniWave, Bflixz, Flixtorz, Movies7, and Myflixer. Together, these sites amassed over 6.7 billion visits from January 2023 to June 2024, making them the most visited piracy network of their kind.
MPA CEO and ACE Chairman Charles Rivkin called the shutdown “a landmark achievement for the creative industries worldwide.”
Vietnamese Authorities Confirm Details
While international anti-piracy groups celebrated the victory in August, Vietnamese authorities remained silent. Now, after months of investigation, Hanoi City Police have provided new details about the suspects and their operations.
The investigation, led by the Economic Police Department with assistance from other Hanoi police divisions, uncovered significant evidence, leading to the arrests of two individuals in connection with FMovies.
The Suspects
- Phan Thanh Cong
- Residence: Mo Lao ward, Ha Dong district, Hanoi
- Role: Identified as the mastermind behind FMovies, responsible for designing, managing, and operating the platform. The network offered nearly 50,000 pirated films, many of which violated the rights of major Hollywood studios.
- Background: Authorities noted that Cong had faced administrative penalties in the past for similar offences, but no further details were provided.
- Nguyen Tuan Anh
- Residence: Mo Lao ward, Ha Dong district, Hanoi
- Role: Served as an accomplice, uploading over 50,000 movies to FMovies and its sister platforms, infringing copyright on a massive scale.
A Multi-Million Dollar Piracy Network
Authorities report that FMovies operated from 2016 to 2024, generating “hundreds of thousands of US dollars” in illicit revenue. Both suspects reportedly admitted to all charges during questioning, prompting officials to move forward with prosecution.
The pair will be charged under Clause 2, Section 225 of Vietnam’s Penal Code, which addresses copyright infringement on a commercial scale.
Potential Penalties for the Accused
Vietnamese law prescribes significant penalties for large-scale piracy. Fines can range from VND 50,000,000 (approximately $2,000) to VND 1,000,000,000 (nearly $395,000), with potential prison terms of six months to three years depending on the severity and scale of the crime.
While exact sentencing details remain unclear, FMovies’ substantial profits and the extensive infringement may lead to harsher penalties. However, Vietnamese authorities have historically imposed administrative measures in similar cases, leaving the final outcome uncertain.
Global Cooperation Against Piracy
The dismantling of FMovies highlights Vietnam’s increasing role in global anti-piracy efforts. A letter from U.S. officials, displayed in a Vietnamese police video, expressed gratitude for the collaboration, emphasizing the importance of the case to the entertainment industry.
The operation reflects the growing partnership between Hollywood studios and international law enforcement to combat online piracy. With FMovies now offline and its operators facing prosecution, the case serves as a reminder of the risks involved in digital piracy and the ongoing global crackdown against it.
Though the full details of the trial and sentencing are yet to unfold, the fall of FMovies marks a pivotal moment in the fight against online copyright infringement.
