Vietnamese authorities arrested seven individuals linked to HiAnime, a major anime piracy service. This follows HiAnime's shutdown in June, where it gained significant traffic and revenue, impacting the legal anime streaming market.
Vietnamese authorities have arrested seven suspects tied to HiAnime, an anime piracy streaming service that attracted millions of visitors monthly before its shutdown. The arrests follow a significant crackdown on piracy at the site, launched on various domains including Zoro.to and Aniwatch.to.
HiAnime provided a massive library of pirated English-subbed and dubbed anime, briefly overtaking platforms like Disney+ and Crunchyroll in visitor numbers. This illegal service's popularity raised concerns among rights holders and prompted its inclusion in various piracy watchlists.
The suspects face charges related to copyright infringement, money laundering, and have been associated with over 100 websites distributing more than 26,000 pirated anime films. With an estimated $12.85 million in illegal advertising revenue generated, these arrests mark a significant step in combating copyright violations in Vietnam.
The Alliance for Creativity and Entertainment (ACE) has supported the investigation leading to these arrests, thanking U.S. law enforcement for their assistance in the multi-year effort. ACE aims to continue its partnership with Vietnamese authorities in combating piracy.
This action against HiAnime follows earlier efforts by ACE, which recently announced the closure of another major piracy platform, AnimePlay. The ongoing efforts highlight a concerted push to protect intellectual property rights in the digital space.
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Vietnamese authorities arrested seven individuals linked to HiAnime, a major anime piracy service. This follows HiAnime's shutdown in June, where it gained significant traffic and revenue, impacting the legal anime streaming market.