In 2024, the Motion Picture Association (MPA) and the Premier League secured notable victories against piracy in Vietnam. The collapse of the infamous Fmovies network and the conviction of an individual linked to a major IPTV service marked significant achievements in a region where piracy enforcement has long been challenging. However, questions remain over whether these successes signal lasting change or are simply isolated incidents.

A Long-Anticipated Problem

Years before Vietnam became a piracy hotspot, the MPA had predicted that improving internet infrastructure would likely lead to increased digital piracy. That prediction turned out to be highly accurate. For years, Vietnam provided a safe haven for pirate sites, allowing them to flourish due to weak enforcement measures. However, in 2024, everything changed—at least on paper.

After accumulating billions of visits across its network, Fmovies was effectively shut down, an event heralded as a major victory. At the same time, Vietnam saw its first-ever criminal conviction for online copyright infringement when an individual connected to the BestBuyIPTV service appeared in court. The Premier League, which spearheaded the case, viewed this outcome as groundbreaking.

Legal Wins and Their Limitations

The Premier League and MPA/ACE (Alliance for Creativity and Entertainment) have called the BestBuyIPTV case a step in the right direction. In a submission to the USTR’s Special 301 Report, they highlighted it as a positive precedent, along with early steps toward implementing a site-blocking system in Vietnam.

“These are encouraging developments,” the Premier League stated. “However, given Vietnam’s history of weak intellectual property protections, further action is needed to build on these early successes.”

Yet, despite this optimism, concerns are growing that these victories may not indicate lasting change. The Premier League has reported that since the BestBuy case, enforcement agencies have returned to bureaucratic hurdles, such as questioning whether copyrights were properly registered—delays that hinder meaningful progress.

Case Details: A Conviction with Minimal Consequences

Court records in the BestBuyIPTV case describe an operator who purchased .M3U playlists from a forum and resold them for $9 per month. The defendant earned approximately 615 million VND ($24,400) but later returned the full amount, reportedly expressing deep remorse. The court viewed this repayment as a mitigating factor, ultimately issuing a suspended sentence, confiscating an MSI laptop, and imposing a relatively minor fine of 100 million VND (around $4,000).

Bitcoin transactions linked to the case raised additional concerns, as the defendant had engaged in cryptocurrency trading worth 19 billion VND ($757,000). However, due to Vietnam’s ambiguous stance on cryptocurrency, the court ruled that there was no basis for tax evasion charges. In a key observation, the court noted that the defendant had withdrawn 15.6 billion VND from PayPal for business purposes but had ultimately lost all of it.

Hollywood’s Skepticism

The IIPA (International Intellectual Property Alliance), representing the MPA and IFPI (International Federation of the Phonographic Industry), remains unconvinced that these legal actions will have a lasting impact. In its submission to the USTR, the IIPA emphasized the need for greater clarity in enforcement policies and harsher penalties for piracy offenses.

“Despite some notable enforcement actions in 2024, the lack of consistent legal deterrents continues to fuel piracy in Vietnam,” the submission stated. “Criminal penalties remain insufficient to combat the scale of illegal operations.”

The Fmovies Crackdown: An Incomplete Victory?

One of the most high-profile anti-piracy victories of 2024 was the apparent dismantling of the Fmovies operation. Vietnamese authorities, with support from MPA/ACE, arrested two individuals allegedly behind the site. However, details surrounding their prosecution remain unclear.

A document retrieved from the investigation suggested that the decision to prosecute was made in August 2024—two weeks before the shutdown was announced and three months before authorities publicly confirmed charges. The IIPA believes that others involved in running Fmovies should also face legal consequences, and it has urged Vietnam to ensure that all operators are held accountable.

The Road Ahead: A Watch List Status?

Despite the enforcement actions of 2024, the Premier League and Hollywood studios remain cautious about long-term progress. Bureaucratic delays, lenient sentencing, and inconsistent enforcement still present major hurdles. Given these concerns, both the Premier League and the IIPA recommend that Vietnam remain on the USTR Watch List for intellectual property concerns.

As stakeholders push for stronger enforcement, the future of piracy regulation in Vietnam remains uncertain. While the recent victories are noteworthy, the question remains: will Vietnam build on these successes, or will piracy networks simply adapt and continue to thrive?