What is the ruling on copying computer software?

The conditions set by software developers regarding the preservation of their rights and the prohibition of copying must be fulfilled, based on the Prophet's (peace be upon him) saying: "Muslims are bound by their conditions," and because intellectual property rights, inventions, and innovations are protected by Islamic law. However, if they do not explicitly prohibit private copying, then it is permissible to copy for personal use without profiting from it. Copying and reproducing without the owners' permission is permissible in two cases: if the material is not available in the markets and there is an urgent need for it, provided it is for personal use or charitable distribution; or if there is an urgent need for it and the owners are demanding an exorbitant price after recovering the cost with a reasonable profit. As for recording beneficial tapes and photocopying books and selling them, it is permissible as long as the owners do not prohibit it. Downloading programs from websites is permissible if they are free or allow it; otherwise, it is not permissible to infringe upon their rights by circumventing protection measures.