What is the ruling on purchasing photocopied (non-original) foreign medical references that have high intellectual property rights, and is this considered theft? What is the ruling on downloading electronic copies of them from the internet? Does this ruling apply to medical educational software?

The author has two rights: a material right and a moral right. His material right is preserved for him and his heirs, so it is not permissible to copy or print his works except with his permission. Therefore, copying and selling books and references for commercial purposes is not permissible, as it infringes upon the authors' rights, and it is not permissible to buy from them, as this assists them in sin. As for uploading programs and references to the internet without the owners' permission, this is not permissible, but the benefit a student of knowledge gains from these programs is a matter of scholarly disagreement.