During its peak years in the early 2010s, TuneMovie (TuneMovies.net) grew into one of the most popular sites for streaming and downloading movies online. However, its disregard for copyright ultimately led to its shutdown.
Offering Unlimited Movies
Launched in 2009, TuneMovie billed itself as a hub for watching unlimited movies online for free. The site offered a giant catalog of Hollywood, Bollywood, Asian cinema, and more.
Users were drawn to TuneMovie for its vast selection, well-categorized sections, and ability to stream films directly or download them as MP4s and MP3s.
At a time when online movie availability was still limited, TuneMovie became a prized destination. Millions of visitors flocked to the site daily for its convenience and extensive library.
Flouting Copyright Law
However, TuneMovie owed its vast collection to openly pirating content. The site simply uploaded illegal copies of copyrighted films without permission.
Despite DMCA takedown requests, TuneMovie persisted in promoting piracy. It changed domains multiple times to avoid blacklisting but continued offering users easy access to illegal movies.
As government regulations on copyright violations tightened, the legal heat became too much for TuneMovie.
Forced Shutdown
By 2014, advertising partners had deserted TuneMovie due to its rampant piracy. The site struggled to stay financially viable without ad revenue.
Prolonged legal battles and denial of domain services finally forced TuneMovie’s shutdown. But its legacy continues through other sites still enabling access to pirated cinema today.
For better or worse, TuneMovie represented the height of unauthorized movie streaming before stronger crackdowns. While immensely popular among users, its reckless copyright theft led to its inevitable demise.