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The Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC), in collaboration with the Nigeria Internet Registration Association (NiRA), has successfully shut down MovieBox.ng, a popular website notorious for streaming pirated movies, music and live sports content.
The NCC confirmed that the takedown, which took effect on July 20, 2025, was part of its intensified campaign against digital copyright infringement. The development has been widely applauded by stakeholders in Nigeria’s film, music, and broadcast industries, many of whom have long decried the devastating impact of online piracy on their revenues.
NCC Director-General, Dr. John Asein, described the action as “a major milestone in the agency’s renewed fight against online piracy,” revealing that MovieBox.ng was part of a larger, sophisticated network of piracy sites.
“They use multiple mirror domains to access and promote pirated content, with domain histories linked to known piracy operations,” Dr. Asein explained. “We are actively working to identify and disable other related mirror sites associated with MovieBox.ng to ensure the platform cannot resurface under a different name.”
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He commended NiRA for its swift suspension of the domain and urged internet service providers, platform intermediaries, and other online stakeholders to respond promptly to takedown requests, as required by the Copyright Act of 2022. “The role of internet stakeholders is crucial in enforcing copyright laws in the digital environment,” Asein noted. “Collaboration is key to tackling the rising tide of online piracy.”
Piracy remains a significant threat to Nigeria’s creative industries, with a UNESCO report estimating that between 50% and 70% of revenue in the country’s film market is lost to illegal distribution. Beyond financial losses, piracy deters local and international investments and undermines the livelihoods of artists, producers, and countless others working behind the scenes.
By dismantling MovieBox.ng and pursuing its associated domains, the NCC says it is sending a clear message to pirates and their networks: illegal distribution of copyrighted works will not be tolerated.
