FMovies Operators Confess: A Global Crackdown on Piracy Revealed

Operators of FMovies, World's Formerly Biggest Piracy Empire, Confess

A Gigantic Piracy Empire Unveiled

FMovies, once recognized as the largest piracy empire globally, has dominated the internet landscape with boundless access to TV shows, movies, and anime. The empire was reportedly helmed by two individuals, Phan Thành Công and Nguyen Tuan Anh. Following their arrest for copyright violations in Vietnam, these individuals have confessed to the multitude of charges against them.

As documented by Torrent Freak, these operators transformed FMovies into a piracy powerhouse that amassed over 190 million monthly visits at its peak. Công, the brainchild behind the operation, was pivotal in establishing and managing FMovies, while Anh’s role entailed duplicating content onto affiliated websites, including Aniwave, which alone attracted over 170 million monthly visitors.

AniWave: Piracy’s Residual Footprint

Despite the clampdown on anime piracy sites, Aniwave’s legacy persists. Following the shutdown of several sites under the FMovies umbrella in August 2024, Aniwave astonishingly maintained 5.8 million visits in October 2024 to what is now an inaccessible site. From January 2023 to June 2024, FMovies-related platforms collectively garnered over 6.7 billion visits.

The Motion Picture Association (MPA) and its anti-piracy division, the Alliance for Creativity and Entertainment (ACE), spearheaded the arrests alongside the Hanoi Police. These entities represent some of the globe's most influential media enterprises, such as Amazon, Netflix, and Walt Disney Studios.

Copyright Enforcement and Global Efforts

In the battle against piracy, the U.S. stands prominently, with numerous top-tier companies actively issuing takedown requests for copyright violations. Aniwave alone had over 91,000 URLs flagged for infringement in Google’s takedowns, driven by a coalition of Japanese and international organizations dedicated to content protection. Reports indicate that 77.7% of Aniwave-related requests successfully navigated Google’s systems, reflecting ongoing global efforts to curb illegal distribution of content.

The Wider Impact on Anime and Webcomic Piracy

Additionally, Korea reports similar efforts to combat piracy. The apprehension of operators managing Korean piracy networks, including sites like Noonoo, OKTOON, and TVWIKI, signifies a cooperative international framework against digital piracy. These sites, collectively earning 60 million monthly visits, extended to pirate Korean drama, webcomics, TV, and movies.

WEBTOON, a popular platform for webcomics, also engaged in legal battles, pursuing a lawsuit for $700,000 against pirates in the wake of enhanced global enforcement efforts.

Conclusion

The crackdown on FMovies and associated networks epitomizes a critical juncture in the global fight against digital piracy. It highlights the extensive reach and impact illicit distribution platforms can have on media industries worldwide. As piracy dynamics evolve, so do the strategies and collaborative efforts of international bodies dedicated to safeguarding intellectual property.