Used copied software and wants to repent

7-3-2010 | IslamWeb

Question:

AsalamoAlikum
Apologies for sending the question on the same topic again since I missied out some key points in the last question which I sent on the same issue.
Is the excuse that softwares(e.g.Microsoft Office, Adobe Photoshop) are very expensive valid given by the one who uses pirated versions of these. Does anyone have a right in Islam to use the pirated softwares if he believes that he cannot afford them or they are priced too high according to him.
I used some pirated softwares in the past but signigicant period of time has elapsed sinced I have stopped using them. I might be able to
apologise them with email but am unable to compensate them financially.
Any possibility for me to get the forgiveness from Allah without contacting them and compensating them financially?
what do I do about copies which I installed on other people's computer and was unable to refuse them due to lack of clarity with regard to correct shariat application on this issue?
(My father usually asks me to install on his computer Microsoft's software through pirated cd which makes me really feel uneasy. He perhaps believes that the software is expensive)
Kindly support me with precise application of shariat on this issue and how to treat my father in this issue.
Jazak Allah

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Answer:

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger.

 

In principle, it is not permissible to copy software programmes whose owners and producers state that ‘all rights reserved’ except with their permission as these are possessed rights whose owners spent money and efforts in producing and publishing them, so copying them is invalidating these rights and spoiling that money and those efforts.

However, some scholars stated that if a person needs to copy a program due to the lack of its original copy or that he is unable to buy it, then it becomes permissible for him to copy it for his own benefit only provided that he does not use it as a means for earning money or trading with it. Here, one should use it only according to the necessity because using it for other purposes than the necessity is a transgression that incurs sin. For more benefit, please refer to Fatwa 85102.

Therefore, if you are not able to recompense the owners of these software programmes and they do not pardon you, then you may just repent and avoid doing this in the future. Also, this includes refraining from obeying your father in downloading these programmes as there is no obedience to a creature in disobeying the Creator. 

Allaah Knows best.