The ‘masterminds’ behind FMovies and its affiliated websites have confessed and will be facing prosecution for copyright infringement.
The Collapse of FMovies
FMovies had been on of the most visited movie streaming websites, attracting millions of users worldwide.
However, in June 2024, the platform began showing signs of trouble. Updates stopped, authorities labeled FMovies as a top piracy threat, and by mid-July, the site vanished without explanation.
In August, the MPA and ACE confirmed the shutdown FMovies and its affiliated sites, including AniWave, Bflixz, and Myflixer.
During its peak, FMovies was the largest piracy ring globally, recording over 6.7 billion visits between January 2023 and June 2024. Charles Rivkin, CEO of MPA and Chairman of ACE, hailed the shutdown as a major win for the global creative community.
Vietnamese Authorities Confirm Prosecution
After months of speculation, Vietnamese police confirmed the arrest of two individuals linked to FMovies.
The suspects, Phan Thanh Cong and Nguyen Tuan Anh, both 34, face prosecution under Vietnam’s Penal Code for copyright infringement.
- Phan Thanh Cong: Identified as the mastermind behind FMovies, Cong allegedly managed the platform, which hosted around 50,000 films. Authorities revealed he had previously faced administrative discipline for similar activities.
- Nguyen Tuan Anh: Described as Cong’s accomplice, Anh reportedly uploaded approximately 50,000 pirated videos to FMovies and its sister sites.
Authorities estimate that the operation earned the duo “hundreds of thousands of US dollars” over its eight-year run. Both men confessed to their roles in the scheme during questioning.
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Legal Implications and Uncertainties
The pair will be prosecuted under Clause 2, Section 225 of Vietnam’s Penal Code, which covers copyright violations on a commercial scale.
Penalties could range from fines of VND 50,000,000 (around $2,000) to custodial sentences of up to three years, depending on aggravating factors.
However, details about the exact charges and potential outcomes remain unclear. Vietnamese authorities have been known to favor administrative penalties in some cases, but the scale of FMovies’ operation might warrant harsher punishment.
Wrapping Up
The takedown of FMovies is a significant milestone in the fight against online piracy, but it’s far from the end of the battle.
As one of the largest piracy rings ever dismantled, its shutdown sends a strong message to other operators.
Yet, the fight against piracy is often compared to a game of “whac-a-mole” — as soon as one site is shut down, others inevitably pop up to take its place.
For more information on this story, refer to the report from TorrentFreak.
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