Is it permissible, in Islamic Law, for members or administrators of forums to upload books onto them? And what is the Islamic legal position on such forums?

Forums dedicated to spreading knowledge, culture, and permissible matters are allowed, as is downloading books authorized by their owners. However, for copyrighted books whose owners prohibit their download, it is not permissible to infringe upon them without their permission, because they are intellectual rights that are legally recognized. The resolution of the Islamic Fiqh Academy has stipulated that these rights are protected by Islamic law.

Some scholars are of the view that this is permissible for personal use only, without financial gain, but the prevailing fatwa is that infringing upon them is absolutely forbidden. It is more prudent for a Muslim to avoid them to steer clear of dispute, to safeguard their religion, and to clear their conscience. Those in charge of forums should be advised to avoid downloading copyrighted books and software without the permission of their owners.