Piracy Whack-a-Mole: Why Shutting Down MovieBox.ng Isn’t Enough, by Shuaib S. Agaka
On July 20, the Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) announced it had successfully suspended MovieBox.ng, a platform accused of illegally streaming films, music, and live sports. The move, done in collaboration with the Nigeria Internet Registration Association (NiRA), was hailed as a step forward in Nigeria’s battle against online piracy and formed part of the Commission’s broader Stand Together Against Online Piracy (STOP) campaign.
Yet, within days, the platform re-emerged under a new domain—MovieBox.ph—offering the same pirated content with little disruption to its users. This swift comeback cast doubt on the effectiveness of domain takedowns and exposed the challenges Nigeria faces in enforcing copyright in the digital era.
The NCC had cited evidence that MovieBox.ng was part of a larger network using clone and mirror domains to bypass detection. According to Director General Dr. John Asein, the site operated with fallback mechanisms designed to evade takedown measures. He urged ISPs, web hosts, and intermediaries to act promptly on takedown notices, in accordance with the Copyright Act of 2022. While the intent was clear, the platform’s immediate migration to an offshore domain revealed a glaring limitation: suspending a Nigerian domain does little to stop a piracy operation with access to international registrars.
This strategy of shifting domains is nothing new in the world of piracy. Sites like 123Movies and FMovies have long used rotating addresses and backup servers to stay online. MovieBox appears to follow the same playbook, replicating its library and interface under different top-level domains. These mirror sites often rely on the same infrastructure and hosting networks, making enforcement more complex. The result is a persistent presence that enforcement agencies struggle to eliminate completely.
The core issue lies in the mismatch between national enforcement powers and the global infrastructure of the internet. The NCC can act within Nigeria’s digital jurisdiction, but foreign-based domains and hosts remain beyond its immediate reach. The 2022 Copyright Act has expanded NCC’s tools for domestic enforcement, but international takedowns often require cooperation with global registrars, hosting providers, and tech giants, an effort that can be both costly and time-consuming.
This digital loophole threatens more than legal control; it endangers Nigeria’s creative economy. Nollywood generates hundreds of millions of dollars annually, while the Afrobeats industry has gained global traction. Both sectors rely on content protection for sustainability and growth. Piracy undermines these industries by shrinking revenues, discouraging investors, and eroding creators’ incentives. It’s not just a legal issue, it’s an economic one.
Adding to the problem is user behavior. Many Nigerians knowingly visit piracy sites, often justifying it with the high cost of legitimate content subscriptions. However, these sites pose real risks: malware, phishing schemes, and data theft are common. Users seeking free entertainment may unknowingly compromise their digital security and personal information.
To move forward, Nigeria must rethink its anti-piracy strategy. Collaborating with international domain authorities and hosting services is essential for cross-border enforcement. NCC should invest in digital tools that detect and flag mirror sites in real time. Regulatory pressure on ISPs to block access to piracy domains at the network level would also help. Public awareness campaigns are crucial to shift consumer attitudes and expose the dangers of pirated content. And in the courts, streamlined processes or dedicated IP tribunals could accelerate legal action.
The suspension of MovieBox.ng was a symbolic gesture, but one that ultimately failed to stop the piracy operation. As MovieBox.ph continues to operate, it’s clear that domain takedowns alone won’t solve the problem. To protect its creative industries, Nigeria needs a smarter, more coordinated approach—one that treats piracy not just as a legal violation, but as a dynamic digital threat requiring equally agile enforcement.
Shuaib S. Agaka writes from Kano.
