Is person (B) sinful for helping another person (A) use an unlicensed, pirated software program owned by (A), knowing that the copy is unlicensed? And is he obligated to report it to the authorities, given that there are different fatwas regarding the permissibility of duplicating software after its owner has made a certain profit? And if he cannot delete pirated software from a computer he does not own, is he sinful if the owner of the device refuses to delete it?
Source: FtawySummary from Ftawy's records · added here Sep 2, 2026
If someone copies a program without the owners' permission, it is not permissible to help him use it if you are aware of that. You must advise him and clarify the religious ruling to him. If he is not convinced due to caprice, there is no harm in informing the competent authority. However, if he is not convinced because he believes it is permissible based on following some scholars, then he should not be reported. And if he is unable to delete the program that was downloaded without the owners' permission, then there is no blame upon him.
Summary from Ftawy's records · added here
Reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
Read the full answer on Ftawyhttps://ftawy.com/en/questions/50163
Where this answer came from
- Source platform
- Ftawy
- Original fatwa ID
- 50163
- Added here
- . This is when the answer was added to El Fatwa, not the fatwa's date.
- Text
- Summary from Ftawy's records, reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
- Read the full ruling
- Read the full answer on Ftawy