NCC shuts down MovieBox.ng over illegal music, movie streaming

The Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC), in partnership with the Nigeria Internet Registration Association (NiRA), has taken down MovieBox.ng, a website accused of illegally streaming movies, music, and live sports content.

In a statement issued Thursday in Abuja, NCC Director-General Dr. John Asein confirmed that the domain was suspended on July 20, 2025, as part of the commission’s intensified crackdown on online piracy.

Describing MovieBox.ng as part of a wider network of piracy platforms, Asein said the site operated through multiple mirror and fallback domains with links to other known piracy websites.

“They use clone sites to distribute pirated content and evade detection, posing a serious threat to copyright holders,” Asein stated.

He praised NiRA for its swift cooperation and urged internet service providers and other digital intermediaries to comply promptly with takedown requests under the Copyright Act, 2022.

The NCC also disclosed ongoing efforts to dismantle other mirror sites linked to MovieBox.ng.

Beyond the copyright violations, the commission warned that illegal streaming sites often expose users to malware, identity theft, and financial fraud.

The domain suspension is part of the NCC’s broader “Stand Together Against Online Piracy (STOP)” initiative, launched earlier in 2025 to combat digital piracy and protect creative industries.