Is the money received for preparing a presentation for a non-original program considered unlawful gain (haram), and if so, must it be given away in charity?
Some scholars have ruled that copying computer programs without the owners' permission is prohibited. However, if one needs them due to the unavailability of the original version or the inability to purchase it, it is permissible to copy them for personal use only, provided that it is not for earning money or trading, and is limited to the extent of the need. Some scholars view it permissible to purchase widely copied and circulated software if it is highly probable that the producing company has already made a reasonable profit. As for money earned from making presentations using a copied program, there is no harm in it, because it is in exchange for the effort expended in the presentation and not for the program itself. Nevertheless, one should repent and compensate the program's creator.
Summary from Ftawy's records · added here
Reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
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