In recent years, the number of illegal movie streaming websites in Vietnam has increased significantly, causing serious damage to the film industry and infringing on intellectual property rights. Therefore, the government has continuously tightened management and increased penalties for this behavior. So, what are the latest penalties for illegal movie streaming websites? Let’s find out in detail below.
What constitutes an illegal movie streaming website?
An illegal movie streaming website is a website that provides, broadcasts, or allows users to view or download films without the permission of the copyright owner.
A website is considered to be illegally streaming movies if it exhibits the following characteristics:
- Uploading newly released theatrical films or copyrighted films without a license
- Allowing free or paid viewing of films without paying royalties
- Lacking clear legal information about the distributor
- Inserting numerous advertisements to profit from infringing content
According to Vietnamese law, this behavior is classified as an infringement of copyright and related rights, specifically the right to communicate the work to the public. Not only the website operator, but also those who share and distribute pirated film content can be penalized.
The trend of tightening management of illegal movie streaming websites in 2026
Notably, entering 2026, the Government has implemented many strong measures to control and thoroughly address copyright infringement in the digital environment, especially illegal movie streaming websites. These are no longer isolated incidents but have become a systematic campaign, with close coordination among multiple regulatory agencies such as the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the Ministry of Information and Communications, and cybersecurity units.
During this peak period, authorities are required to review, detect, and dismantle copyright-infringing websites with high traffic, organized operations, and illicit profits from advertising or paid services. Beyond simply blocking access, many websites are being investigated for their operational sources, tracing money flows, and prosecuting the individuals and organizations behind them.
In addition, technical measures are being strengthened, including coordination with internet service providers (ISPs) to block domains and quickly remove infringing content, as well as cooperation with cross-border platforms to prevent the distribution of pirated films from abroad into Vietnam.
These developments reveal several distinct trends:
- The handling of pirated movie websites is no longer a piecemeal issue, but has become a long-term strategy to protect intellectual property rights in the digital age.
- Large, organized, professionally operated, and highly profitable websites will become “key targets” for strong enforcement.
- Beyond administrative penalties, many serious cases will face criminal prosecution.
- Control activities will expand, not only domestically but also involving international platforms.
It is clear that the trend of tightening management in 2026 reflects the State’s determination to clean up the digital content environment, protect the rights of producers, and promote the sustainable development of the entertainment market. In this context, operating or participating in pirated movie websites will pose increasingly greater legal risks and will be more difficult to circumvent the law than before.
What are the latest penalties for websites that illegally stream movies?
The act of distributing pirated films, including showing, broadcasting, or distributing films without the permission of the copyright owner, is defined as an infringement of copyright and related rights, usually for the purpose of illicit gain. According to current law, depending on the severity of the violation, individuals or organizations may be subject to administrative penalties or criminal prosecution.
Administrative penalties
According to Article 15 of Decree 131/2013/ND-CP, the act of distributing pirated films may be subject to administrative penalties ranging from VND 10 million to VND 30 million for infringing the right to communicate the work to the public.
In addition, violators may also be subject to remedial measures such as:
- Forced removal of infringing content
- Forced destruction of infringing copies
- Forced return of profits obtained from the illegal act
Criminal prosecution
In cases where the distribution of pirated films is large-scale or causes significant damage, violators may be prosecuted under Article 211 of the Vietnamese Intellectual Property Law and Article 225 of the 2015 Penal Code concerning the crime of infringing copyright and related rights.
Specifically, violators may be fined from VND 50 million to VND 300 million, or sentenced to non-custodial correctional labor for up to 3 years.
This applies when one of the following signs is present:
- Illegally profiting from 50 million VND to less than 300 million VND
- Causing damage from 100 million VND to less than 500 million VND
- Infringing goods valued from 100 million VND to less than 500 million VND
In more serious cases, the penalties will be increased:
- Fines from 300 million VND to 1 billion VND or
- Imprisonment from 6 months to 3 years
This applies when the crime is organized, committed two or more times, illegally profiting from 300 million VND or more, causing damage from 500 million VND or more, and infringing goods valued from 500 million VND or more.
Handling for commercial legal entities
Not only individuals, but also organizations (commercial legal entities) operating pirated movie websites will face severe legal responsibility. Specifically:
- Fines ranging from 300 million VND to 3 billion VND
- May be suspended from operation for 6 months to 2 years
- Prohibited from doing business or raising capital in certain fields for 1 to 3 years
Thus, the penalties for illegal movie streaming websites are not limited to administrative fines but can also lead to criminal liability with severe penalties. This shows that Vietnamese law is increasingly tightening and strictly dealing with copyright infringement in the digital environment.
The above is the article ” What are the latest penalties for illegal movie streaming websites?”. Hopefully, the information shared has helped you better understand illegal movie websites and the penalties under current law.
Sincerely,
FAQ
Generally, people who only watch illegal movies are rarely directly penalized. However, downloading and sharing pirated films on social media or other websites can still result in penalties under Vietnam’s Intellectual Property Law regarding copyright infringement.
The act of distributing pirated films will be subject to criminal prosecution when there are elements constituting a crime as stipulated in the 2015 Penal Code, such as:
Illegally profiting from 50 million VND or more
Causing significant damage to the copyright owner
Carrying out the act in an organized or commercial scale.