Three Operators of a Pirate Site and App Subject to Criminal Proceedings
The Economic Police Division of the Hanoi City Police announced on August 1, 2026, that it had initiated criminal proceedings against one 23-year-old Vietnamese man residing in Dong Nai Province, who operates the pirate website “Phim Nè” (phimne.live), which had been distributing Japanese films, anime, TV dramas, and other content without authorization, as well as two 29-year-old Vietnamese men residing in Da Nang City, who operate the pirate application “Phim Nè” (phimne.app), for crimes involving infringement of copyright and related rights.
Commenting on the criminal proceedings, CODA Representative Director Takero Goto said: “This criminal enforcement action is not only an important case demonstrating the effectiveness of protecting Japanese content in Vietnam—where such protection had previously been difficult to achieve—but also an important precedent that will significantly advance future rights enforcement.”
Vietnam was designated as the only Priority Foreign Country (PFC) in the Office of the United States Trade Representative’s (USTR) 2026 Special 301 Report, released on April 30, 2026. The report notes that Vietnam is “reported to have the highest incidence of online piracy in the Asia-Pacific region.”
In addition, according to CODA’s 2025 Survey on Damage Caused by Online Piracy of Japanese Content, published in January 2026, 74.2% of respondents in Vietnam reported having consumed pirated audiovisual content, indicating that the use of pirated content remains at a significantly high level. Furthermore, CODA’s ongoing forensic investigations have confirmed that the operators of numerous pirate websites are based in Vietnam, underscoring the severity of online piracy affecting Japanese content in the country.
This criminal enforcement action is only the tip of the iceberg, and CODA hopes that this case will serve as a catalyst for further strengthening the protection of Japanese content in Vietnam.
CODA will continue to strengthen cooperation with right holders, overseas law enforcement authorities, and other relevant organizations, and will further promote initiatives to protect Japanese content against cross-border infringement.
The pirate website “Phim Nè” (phimne.live) was launched in June 2025, attracted a total of 1,090 registered members, and received more than 90,000 visits, with a peak monthly traffic of over 20,000 visits. The site reportedly used automated data collection tools and other means to obtain infringing source materials and distributed films from Japan, the United States, and Vietnam, as well as other content, with Vietnamese subtitles or dubbing, without obtaining authorization from the rights holders. In addition, the pirate application “Phim Nè” (phimne.app) distributed works without authorization through the app and charged users membership fees after 15 minutes of free viewing. It was revealed that, between early 2025 and April 2026, the operators obtained illicit profits of approximately VND 415 million (equivalent to approximately JPY 2.56 million) through a total of 6,451 payments.
Pirate websites that infringe Japanese content attract large numbers of users worldwide, and in recent years, the rapid increase in pirate websites originating from Vietnam has become an international concern. Meanwhile, the Government of Japan, as well as private organizations and companies including CODA, had repeatedly requested that the Government of Vietnam take appropriate measures against malicious pirate websites infringing Japanese content; however, no criminal enforcement action had previously been taken.
Against this backdrop, this case marks the first criminal enforcement action in Vietnam against intellectual property infringement involving Japanese content (according to CODA’s research). It represents a groundbreaking achievement for the protection of Japanese content rights in Vietnam and is expected to contribute to progress in addressing similar cases and to have a deterrent effect on future infringements.
This case was made possible following the signing, in May 2026, by Deputy Prime Minister Ho Quoc Dung of a Prime Minister’s Official Telegram directing the thorough eradication, prevention, and enforcement against intellectual property rights infringement, which led to the launch of a nationwide intellectual property enforcement campaign.
In May 2026, CODA, in cooperation with IP FORWARD, a law firm with an office in Vietnam, and its partner law firm in Vietnam, MNB LAW FIRM, conducted an investigation and compiled information on the extent of damage suffered by Japanese works distributed through the pirate website “Phim Nè” (phimne.live), while supporting the investigation conducted by the Economic Police Division of the Hanoi City Police. In addition, right holders, including TMS ENTERTAINMENT CO., LTD. and TOHO CO., LTD., cooperated in the criminal enforcement process by confirming ownership of the infringed works and submitting materials and documents required for the investigation.
During coordinated search operations conducted by the police on June 22, 2026, computers, electronic devices, storage media, and other evidence were seized. During subsequent questioning, the operators admitted that they had operated the website and the application. The case is currently proceeding as a formal criminal case, and further investigation is expected to continue with a view toward prosecution. CODA will continue to cooperate with the authorities throughout the criminal proceedings.
This activity was carried out as part of a project commissioned by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI).
(Translated using an automatic translation system.)
About CODA
CODA (Content Overseas Distribution Association) was established in 2002 at the call of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry and the Agency for Cultural Affairs to promote the overseas development of Japanese content and take anti-piracy measures. Japan’s proud content, including music, movies, anime, broadcast programs, video games, and publishing, plays an important role in enhancing the nation’s international presence and economic growth. As digital technology becomes more widespread, it is even more significant to protect Japan’s content from increasingly artful copyright infringement and promote the content industry’s development. CODA contributes to the deterrence and detection of online and other piracy, by sharing knowledge with relevant government agencies, organizations, and companies in Japan and abroad, to engage in direct and indirect anti-piracy measures, as well as public relations activities. Visit https://coda-cj.jp/en/activity/ for more information on CODA’s projects.