What is the ruling on selling drawings and engineering projects completed using expensive engineering software that has not been purchased, knowing that the engineer does not sell the software itself but rather sells a product or modification in which the software was used, and he cannot afford to buy this software or there are no practical alternatives to it in the job market?

Fatwas have established that intellectual property rights are protected and belong to their owners, and it is not permissible to infringe upon them. This is also the ruling issued by the Islamic Fiqh Academy. Based on this, it is absolutely forbidden to use non-genuine software. As for the money earned using such software, it is permissible for the earner, but he is sinful for using it and must compensate the software owners. Some scholars permit the use of such software for personal benefit for those who are in need, considering this not to be among the blameworthy indulgences.