NCC Prosecutes NetNaija, MovieBox Operators Over Online Piracy

The Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) has commenced legal action against the operators of online platforms including NetNaija and MovieBox over alleged copyright violations. The commission warned that sites distributing protected content without authorisation could face fines, imprisonment and asset forfeiture under the Copyright Act 2022.

Barrister Kunle Olatunji, deputy director of the NCC's Regulatory and Compliance Department, disclosed the enforcement action on Thursday during a sensitisation programme in Ibadan. The event was organised by the Reproduction Rights Society of Nigeria (REPRONIG) for the South-West Zone at the University of Ibadan, Oyo State.

What the Copyright Act 2022 allows

Olatunji said the 2022 law expanded the commission's powers to fight piracy, particularly on digital platforms. It lets the NCC pursue enforcement against websites involved in infringement, including steps that could lead to the closure of an entire platform rather than the removal of individual pirated materials.

He said: "I think you've heard of BetNaija. We are prosecuting the guy behind BetNaija. That's why you can't see BetNaija anywhere again. We are also prosecuting MovieBox. Those are online platforms that distribute movies and what have you."

The law protects creative works across industries, including publishing. It also prohibits bypassing technological protection systems and removing copyright ownership information. Olatunji highlighted the responsibilities of internet service providers in responding to copyright violations.

AI does not erase creators' rights

On artificial intelligence, the NCC official cautioned that new technology does not remove the legal protection given to original creators. He argued that copyrighted materials cannot simply be collected and used to train AI systems, or redistributed, without due consideration for the rights of their owners.

According to him, infringement attracts penalties that may include financial sanctions, imprisonment and forfeiture of assets, depending on the nature and seriousness of the offence.

REPRONIG pushes for stronger protection

Olatunji urged Nigerians to obtain lawful access to creative materials and respect the rights of copyright holders, stressing that using another person's work without permission amounts to theft.

The programme was themed "Nigerian Copyright Law and the Role of REPRONIG". It drew authors, publishers, academics, librarians, visual artists and representatives of tertiary institutions from across the South-West.

Tosin Akeredolu, REPRONIG's acting executive director, called for stronger protection of reproduction rights, particularly as digital platforms make copyrighted materials easier to access and more vulnerable to unauthorised distribution. He explained that REPRONIG is licensed to manage secondary reproduction rights in text- and image-based works, covering photocopying, scanning, digital downloads and the sharing of copyrighted materials through digital networks.

The case puts Nigerian streaming and download platforms on notice. Operators who build audiences on unauthorised film and book content now face the risk of shutdown, not just takedown notices, and that raises the cost of doing business for any platform that cannot show clean rights to what it distributes.