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Is using pirated software allowed? Please answer with clear evidence supporting your view.

Note that I'm not asking about whether software piracy itself is sinful. My question is regarding the actual using of software that was obtained from a pirated source, either with or without the end user's knowledge.

For example, many of the computer centres here will sell computers with a pirated OS pre-installed, and they will provide discs of the pirated software. Is it haram to use these, given that most of the users don't even realize that what they have is pirated software? Must they stop using the software when they actually learn that it was originally pirated?

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related question: islam.stackexchange.com/questions/207/… – goldPseudo♦ Jun 25 '12 at 5:12
@goldPseudo thanks It appears to be a duplicate vote for close :-) – tachyons Jun 25 '12 at 5:15
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I'm not convinced it's a duplicate. You can work it a bit such that it's asking whether using pirated softwares is allowed even if they were pirated by someone else (i.e., the pirating itself may be a sin, but is it also a sin to use them after the fact?) – goldPseudo♦ Jun 25 '12 at 5:19
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i CV it because piracy of any kind it haram. the og question Where does Islam stand in Internet Piracy? is similar to yours because your question is just a subset of it. pirated softwares come from the internet, right? – Ashu Jun 25 '12 at 6:31
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Can't we act civilly? There's no need for strong words or hard hearts. It's not personal, peeps. – ashes999 Jun 25 '12 at 15:01
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4 Answers

up vote 10 down vote accepted

Ask yourself this: If someone gave you a computer, and it turns out the computer itself was stolen, would it still be halal to use? Piracy is stealing, plain and simple. I've been working in software development for over ten years and I know first hand how much hard work goes into making it, and to have someone come and get it for free hurts.

I also grew up in the Middle East and I know what you're talking about when you refer to not knowing the software is pirated. Now that you know, you have to stop. Especially in this day and age where there is PLENTY of free software that is intended to be free by its developers, it further removes the excuse for any piracy.

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Personally I am computer science student , so I know this issues . But here people who are not software developers are not aware of it . Even the religious groups giving link to pirated softwares in their official website . I am a linux user so pirated softwares are not necessary for me :-) – tachyons Jun 29 '12 at 11:52
+1 for Linux ;) – Fahad Uddin Oct 5 '12 at 16:00
up vote 4 down vote

And eat up not one another’s property unjustly (in any illegal way e.g. stealing, robbing, deceiving, etc.), nor give bribery to the rulers (judges before presenting your cases) that you may knowingly eat up a part of the property of others sinfully. Sura Al-Baqara:188 (2:188)

It is wrong to steal, plain and simple. Obviously, piracy is stealing by definition, hence piracy cannot be possibly allowed.

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up vote 2 down vote

If you buy from someone who is selling those pirated softwares/computers with pirated softwares, you are basically taking part in his evil by aiding/encouraging him. I cannot say it is outright haraam because I have no authority or evidence to do so. But, I would like to admonish you regarding that.

Also, I would like you to listen to the audio of a scholar regarding this issue (parts of which seems relevant to this question) - Shaykh al-Albani on Copyright (It is a small clip anyway!)

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up vote 2 down vote

License agreement is agreement as any other.
Violation to agreement is haram, no matter with whom it signed "accepted"

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