:sl:
Asalaamu Alaikum Wr Wb, the following are fatwa regarding copyrights:
Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds; and blessings and peace be upon our Prophet Muhammad and upon all his Family and Companions.
Recording computer programs videos or others is forbidden unless permitted by their owner. Here is the Fatwa of the permanent council of Fatwa in Saudi Arabia:
"It is unlawful to make copies of programs whose rights are reserved to their owners except with the permission of these owners. The Prophet said: "Muslims are bound by the conditions they set amongst themselves". [Al Hakeem]
The Prophet also said: "Nobody is permitted to take the property of a Muslim unless the Muslim permits him voluntarily to do so". [Al Daraqutny].
The Prophet also said: "Whoever takes hold of a lawful thing before others, he has more right to possess it than others" [Abu Dawood].
So, it is forbidden to copy these programs without the permission of their owners regardless of their being Muslims or non-Muslims.
So, if the owner of these programs forbids only public copying and allows private one, the person can copy the program for private use as stipulated.
But if he forbids both public and private copying it becomes then absolutely forbidden to copy these programs.
Some companies put a sign meaning, "I swear not to abuse your program or use an unauthorized copy of it". So, if the person does not comply with his oath that is a major sin which could lead one to being thrown in Hell-fire.
Allah knows best.
Source:http://www.islamweb.net/VER2/Fatwa/S...Option=FatwaId
Another fatwa in regards to pirate software:
Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the World; and may His blessings and peace be upon our Prophet Muhammad and upon all his Family and Companions.
There is disagreement among contemporary Muslim scholars concerning copying CDs that whose rights are reserved by their owners.
First, some scholars do not legalize copying CDs. And this is the opinion of the permanent committee for Fatwa in Saudi Arabia. Their answer is as follows:
'It is not permissible to copy these CDs without permission of owners. The Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam) said: "Muslims are required to honor conditions that they have agreed upon" . Abu Dawood and al-Saiyouti regards this Hadith as sound.
Another Hadith reads: "A Muslim's property does not become Halal without his consent" [ al-Tirmizi who said good and sound].
A third Hadith reads: "Whoever antecedes (others) to something Halal, he becomes more entitled to possess it" [ Abu Dawood , al-Maqdisi regards it sound].
There is no difference on this ruling whether an owner is a Muslim or non-Muslim.
If the owner states that copying for benefit is not allowed, this means it is permitted to have some special copy for private use. But, if he does not give any permission, then it is Haram to copy by any means and ways.
Second, some scholars believe that it is Halal to copy these CDs as long as for private (not trade) use, especially for students who need these CDs and do not find the original copy or even the money to buy them.
However, the safest position for a Muslim is to avoid buying or using copied CDs, nor to copy them.
If it becomes difficult to find the original copies, then there is no harm to buy copied ones, provided that does not lead one to vow falsely.
Allah knows best.
Source:http://www.islamweb.net/VER2/Fatwa/S...Option=FatwaId
Finally:
Whoever has used these programs is obliged to repent to Allaah and seek forgiveness from their owners either verbally [face to face], or by telephone, or e-mail, or by any other means of communication. If they do not accept to let him have those programs free of charge, he should recompense them financially according to the price of those programs.
Source:http://www.islamweb.net/VER2/Fatwa/S...Option=FatwaId