Illegal Downloads

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It stands to reason that Qur'an should be freely downloadable, but I guess certain Islamic books are not for free distribution (including audio books) and should be purchased through the proper channels. I think we need to be very careful where we tread. For example, is it okay to dl a book on hadith, like Sahih Bukhari? Is there any copywright breach here?
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It depends .Generally the license under which he book is released is mentioned in first few pages.If it is mentioned as it is being sold for money them you cant dload it.If it is written its free to be distributed then surely you can
 
Yeah, there are so many public domain material available that there isn't much of an excuse for downloading copyright material. If you can afford it, buy it. If you can't, find alternatives.. simple :)

In addition, there are now initiatives aimed for students where they can download licenced software for free, such as CAD software from Autodesk, and Windows and Office from Microsoft.

As mentioned by Omar, news networks have their own YT channels since they see that its a viable means of media distribution.
 
:sl:

What If you never planned to buy the software anyway? I know some people who end up buying the new version of the software because they love the older version they downloaded. This way its sort of advertising, and companies can get potential customers that never had the intention of buying in the first place.
 
Walkinfront said:
:sl:

What If you never planned to buy the software anyway? I know some people who end up buying the new version of the software because they love the older version they downloaded. This way its sort of advertising, and companies can get potential customers that never had the intention of buying in the first place.
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Its true that some people end up buying after "trying", but this is usually an exception rather than a rule if it came from the use of illegal downloads.

Usually companies would provide free trials that are either fully functional for a limited time period, or have some feature crippled but is able to use for a lifetime. That is more than enough to test the software whether they like it or not :)
 
Rashad said:
You know, it's an interesting debate question...

What's your opinion on illegal downloading? A few weeks ago someone asked this on the Radio, to which both me and brother Malaz were stumbling upon..

Consider this as well. Wouldn't YouTube be considered illegal too, then? So many movies, episodes, CNN clips, and what have you... Being uploaded and watched by MILLIONS illegally.

Interesting topic, I thought. :P
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CNN and other companies have started uploading their own videos on youtube and they get a certain percentage from all the videos shown on there, not to mention publicity.
 
zakirs said:
It depends actually ,

For good things : (educational software ,books etc)

If you can't afford it and if it is necessary.. i mean you can;t help it these days every company expects you to get familiar with 3-D software which cost something like 1500$ to buy :P. There you are helpless.

For bad things : (movies , songs etc )

Its immaterial to dicuss since its like discussing if killing a man with knife is better or with gun is better :P.


Generally speaking though we should try to follow the law where ever possible.( where ever it is completely avoidable). Since we need to be good citizens to be good muslims.


( note: I accept that i do some illegal dloading too )
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Please, please, please DO NOT talk about something which you do not know about.

Regardless if it's for education or not, illegal downloading IS STEALING.

Did Allah (SWT) say we can steal books, even if they're educational, if we don't have the money? NO. It's Haram.

If you want a specific type of software, then there are many alternatives. I was talking to brother Rashad a while back. He was saying how photoshop costs a lot of money, and how he doesn't want to buy it. I told him of a cheaper and more efficient program I use, called Gimp.

If you need any help with finding alternative software, please ask me. Regardless of how long it takes, I will find it for you. I'd rather spend my time to find you what you need, than have you (or anyone else) commit sins by downloading programs illegally.
 
I thought we could continue this discussion.
 
I was thinking about this recently myself . . . I came upon a site that had TONS of free Islamic books to download, and I was thrilled since I am on a limited budget and in an area where our library's books on Islam are all things like "101 Ways to Dis a Muslim". I started reading one of the books and out of curiosity looked up the author . . . and found several pages of websites where he was lamenting how much his book had been pirated. I felt like dirt, and now I don't know if I should use the site any more. On the one hand I am sure that the author would be thrilled that he spread his knowledge of Islam to a newbie like me, but on the other hand, it is his property and he deserves his due. Which is correct?

I'm not completely innocent by any means; I use a pirated copy of an old version of Photoshop because GIMP doesn't support tablet sensitivity very well on Windows. I learned my lesson the hard way about downloading games and movies when my old hard drive got fragged by a pirated version of Age of Empires II, so I don't do THAT any more!
 
Hmm, say you got a friend you brought a Nasheed CD and she/he let save it into your computer, would that be considered stealing on your part? Technically, the nasheed cd belongs to your friend now, right?

I'm asking this because maybe that's how we find so many lectures, books and nasheeds today. I don't think someone stole it from a islamic book store and went to go put it up on the net (I hope not), but maybe they've purchased it and wanted to share it with others, I don't know..
 
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If you read on most copyrighted material it states specifically not to be copied in any form.

Keep in mind the Author or Artist of a Cd makes very little money on any sale, usually just a few cents and very many have to be sold for the author/artist to continue doing anymore. If you like the works of somebody, it is a good idea to do your share to encourage the artist/author to do more. People who illegally copy tend to discourage artists and authors from making their sales public. If it happens too often you will see a trend for private sales only and in limited quantities at very high prices.
 
Let me ask this . . . there are a lot of "reputable" Islamic sites out there. How do we know which ones are posting things for distribution legally? Anyone can SAY that something is freeware or freely distributable . . . .
 
i dunno, this is a topic that has been nagging me also,
1. don't want them to make a loss for doing a good deed.
2. like to spread the guidance.

i myself have found that after watching copied documentaries on the net, i have liked them and gone on to buy them just to support the author.

there's a guy called alex jones in texas who spends hundreds of thousands making documentaries, he tells people to buy it if they can in order to support him, but even if they can't, at least spend a few cents on some blank dvd's to spread the word.
the man ends up getting more and more viewers and more and more fame, people even go on his site just to buy dvd's which he's put up free on youtube.

i believe we should support authors of good documentaries and nasheeds etc when we can, but i do often listen to copies.
i buy microsoft licenses rather than use cracks, simply because i believe that i wont be asked about how much gates was given.
government propaganda in hollywood movies is different, i consider them spoils of war.
 
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I use pirated software I haven't bought a single license in my lifetime. I illegally download music, movies software and share them too. :hmm:
 
i used to use pirated software before too, i used to install the latest version of windows on every pc people brought to me - but then i sat down and thought.
how much do ms pay their software developers?
what would happen if everyone thought like me and just copied them?
what would i do if i came across a wonderful idea for a program and spent everything my family had on developing it - and then everyone just copied it after the first disc was sold?
what would Allah say if i stole something for the benefit of mankind from a rich company even though i wasn't starving?
would he ask me how rich they were?
it was hard at first but i slowly weaned myself off it - don't get me wrong - i still install copies if their genuine product key is worn off - or if their genuine version of office was lost with the crash - can't have them being robbed due to an unjust law now can we?
but i try to avoid wrongly copying beneficial things unless it can be somehow morally justified - like spreading truth. but even then i think we would do good to support the authors or we'll only get rubbish nasheeds and documentaries, and it would be great if authors of beneficial knowledge said something like - please consider supporting us by purchasing genuine copies of the disc, and donate at such and such - where are all those rich arabs? they could help.

some scholars say there's no such thing as copyright for knowledge - some say there totally is - i believe it's very complicated and that we need to look into the subject more and possibly say: some things shouldn't be copyrighted and some copyrights shouldn't be infringed.
and if it's something necessary for humanity - like a cancer or aids drug - the government should provide a just and reasonable reimbursement to buy it out on behalf of the public - if the public consent - and then make it free.
but that's all my musings - Allah knows best.

the first 45 seconds (the intro) of this documentary speaks volumes - please see:

 
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