What is the ruling on using pirated software, such as the "Windows" operating system and drawing and word processing programs, knowing that they are protected by copyright and have a price, and is this considered theft?

Copying software without the owners' permission or without purchasing it is not permissible, because it is a proprietary right of its owners that may not be infringed upon, whether they are disbelievers or Muslims. However, some scholars have permitted downloading and copying it for personal use, not for financial gain, especially for students of knowledge who need it and cannot obtain original copies due to their unavailability or high price. The safer approach for a Muslim is not to buy, use, or copy pirated discs, in order to avoid disagreement.