The Alliance for Creativity and Entertainment (ACE) has shut down illegal German-language streaming sites HDFilme and xCine.
Active since 2019, HDFilme, xCine, and seven associated domains, operated out of Vietnam, provided illegal access to more than 23,000 movies and an estimated 100,000 TV series episodes, attracting over 16 million visitors monthly, according to ACE. All domains associated with HDFilme and xCine have been transferred to ACE and are redirecting to the Watch Legally section on the ACE website.
“Our focus on Vietnam is a key part of our ongoing efforts to reduce piracy in the Asia Pacific region and throughout the global creative ecosystem,” said Jan van Voorn, Executive Vice President and Chief of Global Content Protection for the Motion Picture Association and Head of ACE.
ACE identified the operator via legal actions taken in Europe and cross-regional investigative work, according to the anti-piracy alliance, adding that this operation is the first of its kind in Vietnam, which is becoming a major exporter of pirated content and a country of origin for many of the world’s largest piracy sites.
“ACE will continue to target the operators of Vietnam-based piracy services who put consumers at risk of egregious malware, undermine investment into the country, reduce tax contributions to government, and stifle creativity,” van Voorn added.