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Fatwa CenterBroadcasting and Proprietary Rights are Reserved
Question
Assalamalikum Warah matullahi Wabarakatuh
Brother, I have a smart TV box that is connected through Wifi basically you can say it is a cable TV channel that I've paid a single amount for a year. After work, I usually want to watch sports, documentaries Indian news and live Adhaan but I just came to know that the cable guy has given me the service which is illegal. Does that account me the wrong person or should I go for the legal?
Jazak Allah Khair
Answer
All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, and that Muhammad, sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam, is His slave and Messenger.
Broadcasting rights and other proprietary rights are protected as per the Sharee‘ah and it is not permissible to transgress them. The Islamic Fiqh Council and other (Islamic) councils issued a decision to this effect. Accordingly, if that service provider has provided you access to these channels in violation of the broadcasting rights, it is impermissible for you to continue using this service, and it is incumbent on you to stop watching the channels that you access illegally.
For more benefit on violating copyrights, please refer to Fataawa 361939, 384226, 306484, and 83969.
Allah knows best.
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