| Revision as of 12:46, 15 January 2024 editQuantumZazzy (talk | contribs)41 edits added URL to main homepage akin to how The Pirate Bay Misplaced Pages page has it's homepage linked, despite being an illegal torrent magnet host. IMPORTANT TO NOTE the URL I linked is not to any direct link hosting pirated content. Rather I provided the URL to reduce the chances people go on a impersonation website potentially hosting malware. IF YOU CHANGE I WILL CHANGE BACK. PERIOD. THERE IS NO DIRECT PIRACY LINK, ONLY TO HOMEPAGE.Tag: Reverted← Previous edit | Latest revision as of 18:09, 11 December 2024 edit undoJayhawker6 (talk | contribs)Extended confirmed users, Pending changes reviewers, Rollbackers3,893 edits Reverting edit(s) by 94.205.98.185 (talk) to rev. 1260894067 by MrOllie: Vandalism (RW 16.1)Tags: RW Undo | ||
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| {{ |
{{Short description|Series of file-streaming websites}} | ||
| {{Infobox website | {{Infobox website | ||
| | name = FMovies | | name = FMovies | ||
| Line 7: | Line 7: | ||
| | advertising = Yes; pop-up advertising | | advertising = Yes; pop-up advertising | ||
| | commercial = Yes | | commercial = Yes | ||
| | url = {{URL|https://fmoviesz.to/}} (formerly ) | |||
| | type = ] | | type = ] | ||
| | registration = Optional | | registration = Optional | ||
| | language = All | | language = All | ||
| | area_served = Worldwide (blocked in ], ]{{Citation needed|date=August 2023}}, ], and the ]) | | area_served = Worldwide (blocked in ], ], ]{{Citation needed|date=August 2023}}, ], and the ]) | ||
| | programming_language = ], ] and ] | | programming_language = ], ] and ] | ||
| | launch_date = {{Start date and age|2016}} | | launch_date = {{Start date and age|2016}} | ||
| | current_status = |
| current_status = Defunct | ||
| }} | }} | ||
| '''FMovies''' |
'''FMovies''' was a series of ] websites that host links and ], allowing users to stream or download movies for free. The sites have been subject to legal action in various jurisdictions on grounds of ] and ].<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |url=https://torrentfreak.com/court-orders-swedish-isp-telia-to-block-the-pirate-bay-181016/ |title=Court Orders Swedish ISP Telia to Block The Pirate Bay & FMovies |date=2018-10-16 |website=TorrentFreak |language=en |access-date=2019-03-07}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |url=https://torrentfreak.com/fmovies-loses-control-of-swedish-domain-moves-to-iceland-180907/ |title=FMovies Loses Control of Swedish Domain, Moves to Iceland |date=2018-09-07 |website=TorrentFreak |language=en |access-date=2019-03-07}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite web |url=https://torrentfreak.com/major-pirate-movie-streaming-site-fmovies-sued-in-us-court-161026/ |title=Major 'Pirate' Movie Streaming Site Fmovies Sued in US Court |date=2016-10-26 |website=TorrentFreak |language=en |access-date=2019-03-07}}</ref><ref name=":3">{{Cite web |url=https://torrentfreak.com/us-court-orders-pirate-streaming-site-fmovies-to-pay-210000-170609/ |title=US Court Orders Pirate Streaming Site FMovies to Pay $210,000 |date=2017-06-09 |website=TorrentFreak |language=en |access-date=2019-03-07}}</ref> In August 2024, the ] announced that the site was shut down by Vietnamese authorities.<ref name="The Hollywood Reporter August 2024">{{cite web |last1=Kilkenny |first1=Katie |title=Top Movie Piracy Ring Taken Down, Major Studios’ Enforcement Group Claims |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/fmovies-taken-down-international-studio-alliance-claims-victory-1235985558/ |website=The Hollywood Reporter |date=29 August 2024}}</ref> The sites were receiving billions of views a year at its peak.<ref name="LA times August 2024">{{cite web |last1=Masunaga |first1=Samantha |title=Antipiracy coalition and Vietnamese police shut down major pirate streaming business |url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/business/story/2024-08-29/anti-piracy-coalition-and-vietnamese-police-shut-down-major-pirate-streaming-business |website=Los Angeles Times |date=29 August 2024}}</ref> | ||
| == History == | == History == | ||
| The site was created in 2016,<ref name=":2" /><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.whois.com/whois/fmovies.to | The site was created in 2016,<ref name=":2" /><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.whois.com/whois/fmovies.to |title=WHOIS Domain Search Revealing Registration |date=2016-11-23 |website=WHOIS.com |language=en |access-date=2023-12-24}}</ref> and blocked from ] searches in December 2016. | ||
| |title=WHOIS Domain Search Revealing Registration|date=2016-11-23|website=WHOIS.com|language=en|access-date=2023-12-24}}</ref> and blocked from ] searches in December 2016. | |||
| In November 2017, FMovies lost a lawsuit brought by Filipino | |||
| media and entertainment group ], and was ordered to pay $210,000.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://torrentfreak.com/abs-cbn-wants-210000-piracy-damages-from-fmovies-170401/ |title=ABS-CBN Wants $210,000 Piracy Damages From FMovies |date=2017-04-01 |website=TorrentFreak |language=en |access-date=2019-05-25}}</ref><ref name=":2" /><ref name=":3" /><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://fossbytes.com/fmovies-shutdown-possible-court-domain-lawsuit/ |title=Will FMovies Soon Lose Its Domain Name? Court Orders The Site To Pay $210,000 |last=Verma |first=Adarsh |date=2017-06-10 |website=Fossbytes |language=en-US |access-date=2019-05-25}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.mobipicker.com/fmovies-copyright-lawsuit/ |title=FMovies.to and FMovies.se to Shut Down Soon? US Court Orders To Pay $210,000 In Copyright Infringement Lawsuit |last=Sharma |first=Shubham |date=2017-06-11 |website=MobiPicker |language=en-US |access-date=2019-05-25}}</ref> | |||
| In January 2018, the site was identified as a "]" by the U.S. government, along with ] and other piracy sites.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://torrentfreak.com/us-govt-brands-torrent-streaming-cyberlocker-sites-as-notorious-markets-180115/|title=US Govt Brands Torrent, Streaming & Cyberlocker Sites As Notorious Markets|date=2018-01-15|website=TorrentFreak|language=en|access-date=2019-05-25}}</ref> In October 2018, ], a Swedish ISP, was ordered to block FMovies.<ref name=":0" /> They appealed the order.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://torrentfreak.com/swedish-isp-telia-appeals-pirate-bay-blocking-order-181026/|title=Swedish ISP Telia Appeals Pirate Bay Blocking Order|date=2018-10-26|website=TorrentFreak|language=en|access-date=2019-05-25}}</ref> That same month, the ] reported FMovies along with other piracy sites to the U.S. government.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://torrentfreak.com/mpaa-reports-notorious-piracy-threats-to-the-us-government-181003/|title=MPAA Reports 'Notorious' Pirate Sites to The US Government|date=2018-10-03|website=TorrentFreak|language=en|access-date=2019-05-25}}</ref> FMovies was blocked in Australia in December 2018, after a request in August.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.zdnet.com/article/australian-court-orders-blocking-of-subtitle-piracy-sites/|title=Australian court orders blocking of subtitle piracy sites|last=Barbaschow|first=Asha| |
In January 2018, the site was identified as a "]" by the U.S. government, along with ] and other piracy sites.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://torrentfreak.com/us-govt-brands-torrent-streaming-cyberlocker-sites-as-notorious-markets-180115/ |title=US Govt Brands Torrent, Streaming & Cyberlocker Sites As Notorious Markets |date=2018-01-15 |website=TorrentFreak |language=en |access-date=2019-05-25}}</ref> In October 2018, ], a Swedish ISP, was ordered to block FMovies.<ref name=":0" /> They appealed the order.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://torrentfreak.com/swedish-isp-telia-appeals-pirate-bay-blocking-order-181026/ |title=Swedish ISP Telia Appeals Pirate Bay Blocking Order |date=2018-10-26 |website=TorrentFreak |language=en |access-date=2019-05-25}}</ref> That same month, the ] reported FMovies along with other piracy sites to the U.S. government.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://torrentfreak.com/mpaa-reports-notorious-piracy-threats-to-the-us-government-181003/ |title=MPAA Reports 'Notorious' Pirate Sites to The US Government |date=2018-10-03 |website=TorrentFreak |language=en |access-date=2019-05-25}}</ref> FMovies was blocked in Australia in December 2018, after a request in August.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.zdnet.com/article/australian-court-orders-blocking-of-subtitle-piracy-sites/ |title=Australian court orders blocking of subtitle piracy sites |last=Barbaschow |first=Asha |publisher=ZDNet |language=en |access-date=2019-05-25}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://torrentfreak.com/australian-court-orders-isps-to-block-181-pirate-domains-including-subtitle-sites-181220/ |title=Australian Court Orders ISPs to Block 181 'Pirate' Domains, Including Subtitle Sites |date=2018-12-20 |website=TorrentFreak |language=en |access-date=2019-05-25}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://torrentfreak.com/movie-tv-show-companies-want-subtitle-sites-blocked-down-under-180802/ |title=Movie & TV Show Companies Want Subtitle Sites Blocked Down Under |date=2018-08-02 |website=TorrentFreak |language=en |access-date=2019-05-25}}</ref> | ||
| In February 2019, Sweden asked advertisers to blacklist some piracy and streaming sites, which included FMovies.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://torrentfreak.com/sweden-asks-advertisers-to-blacklist-streaming-and-torrent-sites-190223/|title=Sweden Asks Advertisers to Blacklist Streaming and Torrent Sites|date=2019-02-23|website=TorrentFreak|language=en|access-date=2019-05-25}}</ref> In April 2019, ISPs in India were ordered to block FMovies and other piracy sites.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://torrentfreak.com/pirate-bay-rarbg-1337x-torrentz2-to-be-permanently-blocked-in-india-190412/|title=Pirate Bay, RARBG, 1337x & Torrentz2 to be Permanently Blocked in India|date=2019-04-12|website=TorrentFreak|language=en|access-date=2019-05-25}}</ref> | In February 2019, Sweden asked advertisers to blacklist some piracy and streaming sites, which included FMovies.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://torrentfreak.com/sweden-asks-advertisers-to-blacklist-streaming-and-torrent-sites-190223/ |title=Sweden Asks Advertisers to Blacklist Streaming and Torrent Sites |date=2019-02-23 |website=TorrentFreak |language=en |access-date=2019-05-25}}</ref> In April 2019, ISPs in India were ordered to block FMovies and other piracy sites.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://torrentfreak.com/pirate-bay-rarbg-1337x-torrentz2-to-be-permanently-blocked-in-india-190412/ |title=Pirate Bay, RARBG, 1337x & Torrentz2 to be Permanently Blocked in India |date=2019-04-12 |website=TorrentFreak |language=en |access-date=2019-05-25}}</ref> | ||
| In October 2023, Vietnam's ] declares a joint operation with the ] and ] divisions, with direct focus on FMovies in an effort to combat piracy.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://torrentfreak.com/vietnam-forms-specialist-unit-to-tackle-pirate-sites-linked-to-organized-crime-231018/ | In October 2023, Vietnam's ] declares a joint operation with the ] and ] divisions, with direct focus on FMovies in an effort to combat piracy.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://torrentfreak.com/vietnam-forms-specialist-unit-to-tackle-pirate-sites-linked-to-organized-crime-231018/ |title=Vietnam Forms Specialist Unit to Tackle Pirate Sites Linked to 'Organized Crime' |date=2023-10-18 |website=TorrentFreak |language=en |access-date=2023-12-24}}</ref> | ||
| |title=Vietnam Forms Specialist Unit to Tackle Pirate Sites Linked to “Organized Crime”|date=2023-10-18|website=TorrentFreak|language=en|access-date=2023-12-24}}</ref> | |||
| In December 2023, scrutiny heightened as the ] holds a ] hearing with the ], where calls for more action to be done against FMovies are requested in particular, with ] calling for ] within the ] to block access to the website entirely, also citing other concerns regarding how the website may garner revenue.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/live/TRopaIRr2-E?t=2768|title=Digital Copyright Piracy: Protecting American Consumers, Workers, and Creators|date=2023-12-13| |
In December 2023, scrutiny heightened as the ] holds a ] hearing with the ], where calls for more action to be done against FMovies are requested in particular, with ] calling for ] within the ] to block access to the website entirely, also citing other concerns regarding how the website may garner revenue.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/live/TRopaIRr2-E?t=2768 |title=Digital Copyright Piracy: Protecting American Consumers, Workers, and Creators |date=2023-12-13 |via=YouTube |language=en |access-date=2023-12-24}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://judiciary.house.gov/sites/evo-subsites/judiciary.house.gov/files/evo-media-document/temple-testimony.pdf |title=Testimony of Karyn A. Temple Senior Executive Vice President and Global General Counsel Motion Picture Association, Inc. To the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on the Judiciary Subcommittee on Courts, Intellectual Property, and the Internet hearing on “Digital Copyright Piracy: Protecting American Consumers, Workers, And Creators” |date=2023-12-13 |website=House Judiciary Committee Republicans |language=en |access-date=2023-12-24}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://torrentfreak.com/pirate-site-blocking-demands-intensify-as-u-s-lawmakers-get-fmovies-walkthrough-231214/ |title=Pirate Site Blocking Demands Intensify as U.S. Lawmakers Get Fmovies Walkthrough |date=2023-12-14 |website=TorrentFreak |language=en |access-date=2023-12-24}}</ref> | ||
| |title=Testimony of Karyn A. Temple Senior Executive Vice President and Global General Counsel Motion Picture Association, Inc. To the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on the Judiciary Subcommittee on Courts, Intellectual Property, and the Internet hearing on “Digital Copyright Piracy: Protecting American Consumers, Workers, And Creators”|date=2023-12-13|website=House Judiciary Committee Republicans|language=en|access-date=2023-12-24}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://torrentfreak.com/pirate-site-blocking-demands-intensify-as-u-s-lawmakers-get-fmovies-walkthrough-231214/|title=Pirate Site Blocking Demands Intensify as U.S. Lawmakers Get Fmovies Walkthrough|date=2023-12-14|website=TorrentFreak|language=en|access-date=2023-12-24}}</ref> | |||
| In July 2024 the site was reported as offline.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Van der Sar |first=Ernesto |date=July 17, 2024 |title=Fmovies Has Gone Offline, the End of a Pirate Streaming Giant? |url=https://torrentfreak.com/fmovies-has-gone-offline-the-end-of-a-pirate-streaming-giant-240717/ |access-date=2024-08-29 |website=TorrentFreak |language=en}}</ref> Several websites related to FMovies have followed suit next month.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Van der Sar |first=Ernesto |date=28 August 2024 |title=Pirate Streaming Giants Fboxz, AniWave, Zoroxtv & Others Dead in Major Collapse |url=https://torrentfreak.com/pirate-streaming-giant-fboxz-aniwave-others-dead-in-major-collapse-240827/ |access-date=2024-08-29 |website=TorrentFreak |language=en}}</ref> In August 2024, the ] announced that the site was shut down by Vietnamese authorities, with Hanoi police having arrested two Vietnamese men in relation to the website.<ref name="The Hollywood Reporter August 2024" /> ] reported that according to local police, the suspects allegedly earned “hundreds of thousands of US dollars” while operating the site, and "both men confessed in full to all alleged crimes."<ref name="TorrentFreak November 13, 2024">{{cite web |last1=Maxwell |first1=Andy |title=FMovies Piracy 'Mastermind' Confesses, Authorities Confirm Piracy Prosecution |url=https://torrentfreak.com/fmovies-piracy-mastermind-confesses-authorities-confirm-prosecution-241113/ |website=] |language=en |date=November 13, 2024}}</ref> | |||
| == See also == | == See also == | ||
| Line 38: | Line 37: | ||
| * ] Torrents (or YTS), online movie file downloading network | * ] Torrents (or YTS), online movie file downloading network | ||
| * ], a ] program allowing users to watch movies through torrenting on several platforms | * ], a ] program allowing users to watch movies through torrenting on several platforms | ||
| * ], similar online movie streaming network | * ], similar online movie streaming network | ||
| ==References== | ==References== | ||
| {{reflist}} | {{reflist}} | ||
| ] | ] | ||
| ] | |||
| ] | |||
| ] | ] | ||
| ] | ] | ||
| ] | |||
| ] | |||
Latest revision as of 18:09, 11 December 2024
Series of file-streaming websites | |
| Type of site | Streaming media |
|---|---|
| Available in | All |
| Area served | Worldwide (blocked in Australia, Denmark, United Arab Emirates, Sweden, and the United Kingdom) |
| Advertising | Yes; pop-up advertising |
| Commercial | Yes |
| Registration | Optional |
| Launched | 2016; 8 years ago (2016) |
| Current status | Defunct |
| Written in | HTML, JavaScript and PHP |
FMovies was a series of file streaming websites that host links and embedded videos, allowing users to stream or download movies for free. The sites have been subject to legal action in various jurisdictions on grounds of copyright infringement and piracy. In August 2024, the Alliance for Creativity and Entertainment announced that the site was shut down by Vietnamese authorities. The sites were receiving billions of views a year at its peak.
History
The site was created in 2016, and blocked from Google searches in December 2016.
In November 2017, FMovies lost a lawsuit brought by Filipino media and entertainment group ABS-CBN, and was ordered to pay $210,000.
In January 2018, the site was identified as a "notorious market" by the U.S. government, along with The Pirate Bay and other piracy sites. In October 2018, Telia Company, a Swedish ISP, was ordered to block FMovies. They appealed the order. That same month, the Motion Picture Association reported FMovies along with other piracy sites to the U.S. government. FMovies was blocked in Australia in December 2018, after a request in August.
In February 2019, Sweden asked advertisers to blacklist some piracy and streaming sites, which included FMovies. In April 2019, ISPs in India were ordered to block FMovies and other piracy sites.
In October 2023, Vietnam's Ministry of Information and Communications (Vietnam) declares a joint operation with the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (Vietnam) and Ministry of Public Security (Vietnam) divisions, with direct focus on FMovies in an effort to combat piracy.
In December 2023, scrutiny heightened as the United States House Judiciary Subcommittee on Courts, the Internet, and Intellectual Property holds a livestreamed hearing with the Motion Picture Association, where calls for more action to be done against FMovies are requested in particular, with Karyn Temple calling for ISPs within the United States to block access to the website entirely, also citing other concerns regarding how the website may garner revenue.
In July 2024 the site was reported as offline. Several websites related to FMovies have followed suit next month. In August 2024, the Alliance for Creativity and Entertainment announced that the site was shut down by Vietnamese authorities, with Hanoi police having arrested two Vietnamese men in relation to the website. TorrentFreak reported that according to local police, the suspects allegedly earned “hundreds of thousands of US dollars” while operating the site, and "both men confessed in full to all alleged crimes."
See also
- Putlocker, similar online movie streaming network
- YIFY Torrents (or YTS), online movie file downloading network
- Popcorn Time, a freeware program allowing users to watch movies through torrenting on several platforms
- 123Movies, similar online movie streaming network
References
- ^ "Court Orders Swedish ISP Telia to Block The Pirate Bay & FMovies". TorrentFreak. 2018-10-16. Retrieved 2019-03-07.
- "FMovies Loses Control of Swedish Domain, Moves to Iceland". TorrentFreak. 2018-09-07. Retrieved 2019-03-07.
- ^ "Major 'Pirate' Movie Streaming Site Fmovies Sued in US Court". TorrentFreak. 2016-10-26. Retrieved 2019-03-07.
- ^ "US Court Orders Pirate Streaming Site FMovies to Pay $210,000". TorrentFreak. 2017-06-09. Retrieved 2019-03-07.
- ^ Kilkenny, Katie (29 August 2024). "Top Movie Piracy Ring Taken Down, Major Studios' Enforcement Group Claims". The Hollywood Reporter.
- Masunaga, Samantha (29 August 2024). "Antipiracy coalition and Vietnamese police shut down major pirate streaming business". Los Angeles Times.
- "WHOIS Domain Search Revealing Registration". WHOIS.com. 2016-11-23. Retrieved 2023-12-24.
- "ABS-CBN Wants $210,000 Piracy Damages From FMovies". TorrentFreak. 2017-04-01. Retrieved 2019-05-25.
- Verma, Adarsh (2017-06-10). "Will FMovies Soon Lose Its Domain Name? Court Orders The Site To Pay $210,000". Fossbytes. Retrieved 2019-05-25.
- Sharma, Shubham (2017-06-11). "FMovies.to and FMovies.se to Shut Down Soon? US Court Orders To Pay $210,000 In Copyright Infringement Lawsuit". MobiPicker. Retrieved 2019-05-25.
- "US Govt Brands Torrent, Streaming & Cyberlocker Sites As Notorious Markets". TorrentFreak. 2018-01-15. Retrieved 2019-05-25.
- "Swedish ISP Telia Appeals Pirate Bay Blocking Order". TorrentFreak. 2018-10-26. Retrieved 2019-05-25.
- "MPAA Reports 'Notorious' Pirate Sites to The US Government". TorrentFreak. 2018-10-03. Retrieved 2019-05-25.
- Barbaschow, Asha. "Australian court orders blocking of subtitle piracy sites". ZDNet. Retrieved 2019-05-25.
- "Australian Court Orders ISPs to Block 181 'Pirate' Domains, Including Subtitle Sites". TorrentFreak. 2018-12-20. Retrieved 2019-05-25.
- "Movie & TV Show Companies Want Subtitle Sites Blocked Down Under". TorrentFreak. 2018-08-02. Retrieved 2019-05-25.
- "Sweden Asks Advertisers to Blacklist Streaming and Torrent Sites". TorrentFreak. 2019-02-23. Retrieved 2019-05-25.
- "Pirate Bay, RARBG, 1337x & Torrentz2 to be Permanently Blocked in India". TorrentFreak. 2019-04-12. Retrieved 2019-05-25.
- "Vietnam Forms Specialist Unit to Tackle Pirate Sites Linked to 'Organized Crime'". TorrentFreak. 2023-10-18. Retrieved 2023-12-24.
- "Digital Copyright Piracy: Protecting American Consumers, Workers, and Creators". 2023-12-13. Retrieved 2023-12-24 – via YouTube.
- "Testimony of Karyn A. Temple Senior Executive Vice President and Global General Counsel Motion Picture Association, Inc. To the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on the Judiciary Subcommittee on Courts, Intellectual Property, and the Internet hearing on "Digital Copyright Piracy: Protecting American Consumers, Workers, And Creators"" (PDF). House Judiciary Committee Republicans. 2023-12-13. Retrieved 2023-12-24.
- "Pirate Site Blocking Demands Intensify as U.S. Lawmakers Get Fmovies Walkthrough". TorrentFreak. 2023-12-14. Retrieved 2023-12-24.
- Van der Sar, Ernesto (July 17, 2024). "Fmovies Has Gone Offline, the End of a Pirate Streaming Giant?". TorrentFreak. Retrieved 2024-08-29.
- Van der Sar, Ernesto (28 August 2024). "Pirate Streaming Giants Fboxz, AniWave, Zoroxtv & Others Dead in Major Collapse". TorrentFreak. Retrieved 2024-08-29.
- Maxwell, Andy (November 13, 2024). "FMovies Piracy 'Mastermind' Confesses, Authorities Confirm Piracy Prosecution". TorrentFreak.