'Xoi Lac is linked to organized crime'

Representatives from the Ministry of Information and Communications stated that the Xôi Lạc website, which illegally broadcasts football matches, is not simply a copyright violation.

"Gambling, online fraud, and usury are linked to copyright infringement. The Xoi Lac channel is not simply a group of curious children live-streaming for fun; it's connected to organized crime," said Mr. Nguyen Thanh Lam, Deputy Minister of Information and Communications, at a seminar on broadcasting on October 13 in Ho Chi Minh City.

Representatives from the Ministry stated that copyright is a major and pressing issue. Therefore, in the coming period, the Ministry will establish a specialized team on copyright issues with the participation of both the Ministry of Culture and the Ministry of Public Security .

Mr. Nguyen Thanh Lam, Deputy Minister of Information and Communications, at the workshop on the management of broadcasting services in Ho Chi Minh City on October 13. Photo: NT

Meanwhile, Ms. To Nam Phuong, representativeof FPT Play, stated: "Sports tournaments are always livestreamed, from the most rudimentary methods like recording with a phone and uploading it online, to sophisticated violations. If a Champions League match with official broadcasting rights only has a few hundred thousand views, it can be watched by millions on illegal websites at the same time. If we could shift just 10% of viewers from infringing channels like Xoi Lac to OTT channels, the revenue could be reinvested and used to develop sports ."

Lawyer Pham Thanh Thuy, representing K+, stated that copyright infringement occurs across various livestreaming platforms, including Facebook and even imported TV Boxes.

"No one is unfamiliar with Xôi Lạc and Motchillill, the two largest illegal football and movie streaming sites currently," Ms. Thủy said, citing a SimilarWeb report showing that Vietnam currently has over 200 illegal movie streaming websites, attracting 120 million views per month. "This is a number that FPT Play or K+ will never be able to compete with."

According to lawyers, these channels are even brazenly attacking government websites, such as Xôi Lạc TV, which inserts hidden links that violate copyright into websites with the .gov domain.

According to experts, these sites derive their income from advertising gambling and distributing malware, which are illegal activities. However, blocking websites is no longer effective in the copyright battle. "On average, it takes at least two days to file a lawsuit to obtain an order to block a website, while criminals only need two minutes to rename it to a different site," lawyer Thuy said.

Therefore, domestic businesses are proposing that not only domain names but also IP ranges be blocked. This is also a method adopted by many countries around the world to combat copyright infringement.

Representatives from the Ministry of Information and Communications stated that, in addition to combating copyright infringement, raising public awareness is also particularly important. Broadcasters and businesses can incorporate slogans and messages during live broadcasts, urging users to boycott illegal websites.

Vnexpress.net