The Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) has successfully secured the suspension of MovieBox.ng, a website accused of streaming pirated content, including movies, music, and live sports. The action, effective from July 20, was made possible through collaboration with the Nigeria Internet Registration Association (NiRA).
In a statement issued by NCC Director General Dr. John Asein, the Commission described the move as part of its renewed efforts to tackle online piracy. The preliminary findings from the Commission suggest that MovieBox.ng engaged in a coordinated strategy to sustain piracy by using clone domains and mirror websites to evade detection and continue unauthorized distribution of copyrighted material.
According to Asein, the platform’s domain history aligns with previously flagged piracy networks, with evidence pointing to deliberate attempts to avoid takedown measures through fallback domains. He urged Internet Service Providers (ISPs), web hosts, and other online intermediaries to respond swiftly to takedown notices as required by the Copyright Act, 2022.
The Commission also warned the public against visiting websites that offer free streaming or downloads, noting that such platforms not only violate intellectual property laws but also expose users to serious risks, including malware, identity theft, financial fraud, and other cyber threats.
In addition to the suspension, the NCC announced that it is actively working to identify and deactivate mirror sites associated with MovieBox.ng to prevent further piracy.
The action has been welcomed by rights owner associations in the film, music, and broadcast sectors, who praised it as a significant step toward protecting creative content in Nigeria.
This move comes on the heels of the NCC’s Stand Together Against Online Piracy (STOP) campaign, which seeks to rally government agencies, telecom operators, ISPs, and industry stakeholders to unite against the growing menace of digital piracy and safeguard Nigeria’s creative economy.
