The shuts down several .NG domains, including val9ja, tunesloaded, and music.360media, for online piracy allegations.
The commission noted that these platforms were involved in multiple distributions of copyrighted sound recordings and other originals.
According to the NCC Director-General, John Asein, per a BusinessDay report, the crackdown followed a formal request by the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI) that some platforms were engaging in copyright infringement, especially in the music industry.
He said the enforcement action was carried out in collaboration with the Nigerian Internet Registration Association (NiRA)
“The Commission’s Special Taskforce against Online Piracy (STOP) said the websites were confirmed to be engaging in blatant copyright infringement by illegally sharing unlicensed music and audiovisual works belonging to Nigerian and foreign rights holders,” he added.
Alongside the val9ja.com.ng, tunesloaded.com.ng, and music.360media.com.ng, the following are other platforms whose .NG domains had been taken offline.
- toxniaja.com.ng
- medianub.com.ng
- naijalevels.com.ng
- mp3juice.com.ng
The NCC explained that their piracy activities undermine the efforts of legitimate digital platforms and deprive creators and investors of their potential revenue. He added that the intervention is part of the commission’s enforcement programme under the Copyright Act, 2022.
“This empowers the Commission to safeguard creators’ rights and to investigate and curb all forms of online copyright violations across websites, streaming platforms, and other digital distribution channels,” the NCC DG said.
Asein added that the commission, together with NiRA, remains committed to ensuring the swift suspension of any .ng domain found to be involved in piracy. According to him, this provides a safe, lawful, and thriving digital environment for Nigeria’s creative economy.
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Piracy activities in the Nigerian movie and music industry
The piracy of music and movies through digital platforms has become a major challenge for creators and producers globally, and the Nigerian film and movie industry is a core victim.
Aside from the revenue loss, this fraudulent act discourages both local and foreign investments, as investors will want to support a project that may not yield the expected outcome.
Recall that in July, the Nigerian Copyright Commission, in collaboration with NiRA, shut down MovieBox.ng, a website widely known for streaming pirated films, music, and live sports.
The action stood as a major milestone in the agency’s renewed fight against online piracy and was welcomed by rights holders across Nigeria’s film, music, and broadcast industries.
The new suspension has again sent a strong message that the commission is on the front foot to neutralise all forms of piracy in Nigeria.
Reassuring their commitment after the crackdown on the online music platforms, Asein said the commission will continue to intensify its online enforcement operations.
He also appealed to the general public to report suspicious platforms or online activities to the commission via stop.copyright.gov.ng.
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