US Gov Releases Special Piracy Report Targeting Vietnam

The United States Trade Representative (USTR) has released its 2025 Special 301 Report, calling out countries that fall short in protecting intellectual property.

This article breaks down why Vietnam remains a haven for online piracy and what other nations were flagged this year.

Vietnam Still a Primary Target

Vietnam remains on the Watch List—even after a high-profile takedown of the Fmovies piracy ring in 2023.

Fmovies operated since 2016 and was tied to billions of visits across dozens of streaming domains. Authorities arrested two Vietnamese men linked to the operation, which led to the collapse of sites like Bflix, Aniwave, and Zorox.

Though Vietnamese courts did convict the operators of BestBuyIPTV and several movie sites in 2023, the penalties were soft—suspended sentences that failed to make much noise.

USTR recommends harsher punishments and more criminal cases to stop repeat behavior.

Other Key Elements of the Special Piracy Report

Vietnam isn’t alone in the spotlight. The USTR listed several other countries on their piracy watch list.

Here are some of the notable updates:

• Mexico was moved to the Priority Watch List due to unresolved issues with counterfeiting, piracy, and trade deal enforcement.
• Turkmenistan was removed from the Watch List after years without major complaints.
• China is still under fire for forced tech transfers, online piracy, and failure to follow through on trade commitments.
• Indonesia was criticized for ineffective enforcement and a rise in local counterfeit production.
• Brazil remains on the Watch List due to poor border enforcement and outdated digital copyright laws.

The report also highlights that online piracy remains the biggest enforcement challenge globally, especially for U.S. content creators and tech companies.

Final Thoughts

Vietnam’s role in global piracy continues to frustrate U.S. officials. Despite arrests tied to Fmovies, the country still houses some of the world’s top piracy platforms.

USTR’s message is clear: real change won’t come from token arrests or suspended sentences. Without real legal consequences, pirate operators will keep doing business as usual.

For now, Hollywood may have won a battle—but the larger war on piracy is far from over.

For more information on this story, refer to the Special 301 Report (PDF) and also the USTR’s press release on their website.

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