Broadcasting
Content piracy: A complex web of causes
By Frikkie Jonker, director of broadcast cybersecurity and anti-piracy at Irdeto, a partner of Multichoice Africa.
Content piracy is acknowledged as having enormously negative social impacts. It is a type of global organised crime that undermines the creative sector. However, what is not often discussed is what drives content piracy. What leads people to steal content?
Frikkie Jonker
Unfortunately, the African continent is something of a global dumping ground for inferior products. This is practised in the area of legitimate trade, but also in the criminal underworld. Outdated regulations, inefficient law enforcement, bribery and corruption all play a role in this.
Despite this, African authorities are doing a heroic job fighting cybercrime and content piracy. There have been huge successes in the prosecution of content piracy operations.
Criminal risk assessments
To understand why Africa becomes a target for piracy, it is useful to look at things from the perspective of a global criminal syndicate. They will often follow the path of least resistance – and for better or worse, Africa is attractive territory.
When it comes to content piracy, Africa has low barriers to entry, and an almost limitless demand for cheap content.
In terms of penetration success – circumventing cybersecurity measures – they may achieve a success rate of 70%, which compares favourably with other territories. This – coupled with Africa’s billion-strong population – is a key supply driver of content piracy.
From the demand side, a potential user of content piracy will do a similar assessment. There would be the risk of possible prosecution. Of being named and shamed. A risk of downloading viruses and malware onto their devices… However, despite all of this, they may choose to take that risk.
There may be a sense that content piracy is a relatively minor crime, compared to crimes such as murder, rape and grand corruption. In reality, though, content piracy is not a minor crime.
Changing attitudes
Unfortunately, where there are few consequences, the barriers to using stolen content are so much lower.
Changing people’s attitude to the crime of content piracy has to be an industry-wide campaign. The creative industry must unite and address the issue collectively – as they have done through pan-African initiatives like Partners Against Piracy.
Government attitudes, too, are critically important. Where a government sees content piracy as an insignificant issue, they are allowing the sabotage of their own country’s creative and entertainment sector.
But there are further impacts. When leading content businesses consider entering the African market, they need the reassurance that their content rights will be protected. Where a country is unable to provide such guarantees, the investments do not materialise.
Hi-tech enforcement
Fortunately, thanks to recent advances in AI, automation, watermarking and digital tracing capabilities, it is now possible to track down and prosecute consumers of pirated content rapidly, accurately and at scale.
In the UK, for example, police recently arrested as many as 2 000 people who were illegally viewing streams of English Premier League football matches. Similar cases are being pursued in Africa.
Piracy is often a multi-level operation, with global and regional headquarters, as well as regional resellers. It is now also possible for content owners and police to identify criminals at every level of these operations, as well as those who consume pirated content.
Economic impacts
Many people believe they simply cannot afford to pay for content. Entertainment often takes a back seat behind the need to put food on the table.
To some extent, premium content is a luxury, so one can understand this perception. However, pricing innovation by content platforms has led to entertainment packages at almost every price point. Financial difficulty is no longer an excuse for content piracy.
Prosecuting content piracy is not simply a harsh clampdown that spoils everyone’s fun. The war on content piracy has very real benefits – for everyone.
It protects the livelihoods of creators, producers and rightsholders, ensuring that there can be more content in the future.
A content sector such as pay-TV has extremely tight margins. Up to 80% of revenue generated goes into producing and securing content. Given these margins, any content theft threatens the viability of the entire industry.
Major productions across Africa – in Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, Tanzania, Mozambique, and many other countries – sustain thousands of jobs – in production, performance, set and costume design, all the way through to catering, transport and accommodation. The war on piracy is a war to protect these jobs.
In the case of sports events, it is largely the legitimate allocation of broadcast rights that ensures modern professional sport can exist in the first place.
Another benefit of stopping piracy is that it preserves the support ecosystem that maintains trust in content platforms and their ongoing viability. In the legal economy, people invest in people – in their entertainment, their livelihoods and their peace of mind. Enriching their lives. By subscribing to legal content, legal users support this ecosystem.
The reasons for content piracy are complex. But the benefits of a creative economy free of piracy are plain to see. Content entertains, it nurtures, it captures society’s imagination. It helps build local culture. Hence the battle against piracy: to preserve and grow this remarkable industry.
Nigerian Institute of Public Relation’s (NIPR) governing council has announced the appointment of Rasheed Bolarinwa as the Chairman of its newly established FinanceHub Committee.
Rasheed Bolarinwa
Bolarinwa, who serves as the President of the Association of Communication and Marketing Professionals in Banks (ACAMB), will lead the committee aimed at enhancing sustainable Public Relations practices within the banking, insurance, and pensions sectors.
Bolarinwa, currently the Head of Brand Management and Corporate Communication at Polaris Bank, brings extensive experience from journalism, public relations, and the financial sector.
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His leadership is expected to drive significant improvements in PR practices across these financial sectors.
The FinanceHub Committee, which includes experts from banking, insurance, and pensions, is part of NIPR’s broader initiative to strengthen public relations across various sectors.
The committee’s formation aligns with NIPR’s strategy to foster sustainable and impactful PR practices in these critical areas of the economy.
In addition to Bolarinwa, NIPR has appointed other chairpersons for newly created sectoral hubs.
Mrs. Thelma Okoh will lead the Maritime Hub, Dr. Jossy Nkwocha will head the Energy Hub, and Mr. Basil Agboarumi will oversee the Aviation Hub. Dr. Ahmad Sajoh has been appointed to lead the Anti-Corruption and Consumer Protection Hub, while Miss Chimdi Neliaku will head the Young Practitioners Hub.
The appointment letters, signed by Uzoma Onyegbadue, Registrar/Secretary to the NIPR Governing Council, reflect NIPR’s commitment to enhancing public relations practices across these sectors.
NIPR Appoints Rasheed Bolarinwa as Chairman of FinanceHub Committee
At the inauguration of the new chairpersons and committee members, NIPR National President Dr. Ike Neliaku praised the appointees, highlighting their expertise and dedication.
“Your appointments are well-considered and reflect the confidence the NIPR council has in your abilities to advance the objectives of the Hub,” Neliaku stated.
He expressed enthusiasm for collaborating with the new appointees and emphasized the council’s support in driving positive change in public relations practices within their respective sectors.
The operator behind www.score808.com.ng, a website notorious for streaming MultiChoice content illegally, has been arrested by the the Intelligence Response Team (IRT) of the Force Intelligence Bureau of the Nigerian Police.
The Police said that the arrest is a significant victory against internet piracy.
This domain was allegedly infamous for illegally streaming MultiChoice (SuperSport) content, drawing millions of visits from across Africa and beyond.
According to a statement, the arrest, which took place recently, in Osogbo, Osun State, marked a major milestone in the ongoing battle against intellectual property theft and online streaming piracy.
The capture followed an extensive investigation that spanned several months.
Despite efforts to evade detection by frequently changing locations, the IRT’s relentless pursuit ensured the eventual arrest.
The suspect remains in Police custody, with substantial evidence pointing to involvement in large-scale illegal streaming activities.
If convicted, the suspect could face a prison sentence of up to five years, the statement added.
“he scale of the illegal operation is evident from the website’s traffic statistics. The domain www.score808.com.ng garnered 3.1 million visits globally, with over 1.2 million visits originating from Africa alone,” it added.
Frikkie Jonker, director of Broadcasting and Cyber Piracy at Irdeto, expressed appreciation for the Nigeria Police’s dedication and support in this operation.
He commented, “All forms of piracy continue to pose a significant threat to the creative industry. At Irdeto, we are fully committed to addressing every facet of piracy, whether it occurs online or through other means. The arrest of this notorious pirate is a testament to what can be achieved when law enforcement agencies and private sectors work hand in hand. We sincerely appreciate the Nigerian Police’s unwavering support, which has led to this positive outcome.
“Online streaming piracy is not only a criminal offense but also poses significant risks to customers. Users who access pirated content are often exposed to malware, phishing attacks, and other cybersecurity threats that can compromise their personal information. Additionally, by engaging with illegal streams, customers inadvertently contribute to the erosion of the creative industry, undermining the livelihoods of thousands of people involved in content production and distribution.
Senator Liyel Imoke, former Minister for Power and Steel, has been confirmed as the keynote speaker at the annual conference of the Guild of Corporate Online Publishers (GOCOP) scheduled for October 3, 2024 in Lokoja, the Kogi State capital.
This is just as attendance and participation by other highly fecund speakers and panelists have been confirmed.
They comprise, among others, former Chief of Army Staff, Lt-General Tukur Yusuf Buratai (Retd); the Executive Vice Chairman, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Dr. Aminu Maida; a Professor of Political Science at the Federal University Lokoja, Rotimi Ajayi, and an edutainment communicator and veteran broadcaster, Ms Debrah M. Ogazuma.
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Chairman, 2024 Conference Planning Committee, Danlami Nmodu, mni, disclosed these in a press statement issued by the Publicity Secretary of GOCOP, Sir Remmy Nweke.
According to the statement, Nmodu said that Imoke would lead discussion on the theme: “Nigeria: Tackling Insecurity, Power Deficit, and Transitioning to Digital Economy” at the Reverton Hotel, GRA Lokoja, Kogi State on Thursday, October 3, 2024 by 10am.
Senator Imoke was at a time Special Adviser to President Olusegun Obasanjo on Utilities and Chairman, Presidential Committee on OMPADEC and NEPA Technical Boards.
In 2007, Senator Imoke was elected Governor of Cross River State and served his people in that capacity from 29 May 2007 to 29 May 2015.
Imoke studied Law at the University of Buckingham, England for his LLB degree in 1985, and then studied at the American University in Washington, D.C., where he gained a master’s degree in Law. He completed his legal education at the Nigerian Law School, Lagos, in 1988.
He was earlier elected a Senator in 1992 and was in the National Assembly until the military incursion, following the annulment of the presidential election of June 12,1993.
He then went into private enterprise in 1993 as a Managing Consultant.
Retired Lt-General Buratai would be joined by Dr. Aminu Maida as Guest Speakers.
The statement stated that Professor Ajayi would join other panellists, including a former Commissioner in Kwara state and National Coordinator of West African Media Network (WAMNET), Ms Ogazuma.
The 2024 GOCOP conference is the 8th in the series and would be chaired by former Nigeria’s Ambassador to Spain, Yusuf Mamman.
The 2023 edition was chaired by the JAMB Registrar and Chief Executive, Prof Ishaq Olarenwaju Oloyede, while the first Nigerian Professor of Capital Market, Prof. Uchenna Joseph Uwaleke was the keynote speaker.
Previous speakers at the annual conference consisted of Rev. Matthew Hassan Kukah, the Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Sokoto who delivered the 2019 lecture on “Economy, Security and National Development: The Way Forward.”
In 2021, Mr. Boss Mustapha, as the Secretary to the Government of the Federation and Chairman of the Presidential Task Force on Covid-19, keynoted the conference and spoke on: “Post Covid-19 Pandemic: Recovery and Reconstruction in Nigeria.”
Professor Mahmood Yakubu, Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission, delivered the keynote at the 2022 edition themed “2023 Elections: Managing the Process for Credible Outcome.”
GOCOP was established to ensure that online publishers uphold the tenets of journalism.
Membership of the Guild is a constellation of editors and senior journalists who, having distinguished themselves in their various positions in the print and electronic media, ventured into online publishing which is both the present and future of journalism globally.
The Guild has over 104 corporate publishers as members.
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