Does the unavailability of original copies of electronic software in Algeria make it permissible to purchase unauthorized, copyrighted copies?

The fatwa addressed the issue of "intellectual property" and the rights of authorship and invention. It cited the resolutions of Islamic Fiqh Academies and the Permanent Committee for Issuing Fatwas, all of which concur that these rights are legally protected and must not be infringed upon by copying, publishing, or commercial exploitation without the permission of their owners, whether they are Muslims or non-Muslims, provided that the content does not promote any evil or innovation.

The fatwa also presented another view that permits copying software for personal use, but not for commercial purposes. It referenced fatwas from some scholars, such as Sheikh Sa'd Al-Humaid and Sheikh Ibn Uthaymeen, who differentiated between copying for personal use (which they permitted with a preference for avoiding it) and commercial copying (which they prohibited due to the harm it inflicts upon the rights holders).

Accordingly, it is not permissible to copy material whose copyrights are reserved to its owners, nor to purchase copied material without the owners' permission, especially since original copies are readily available today.