What is the ruling on copying computer software, circulating it, and using it by individuals or companies, and what is the ruling if a person buys an original program or wins it and installs it for his friends, knowing that the producing companies stipulate its use on only one device?

A group of scholars is of the opinion that copying computer programs without the owner's permission is prohibited. The Permanent Committee stated in its answer that it is impermissible to copy programs whose owners prohibit copying them, except with their permission, citing the Prophet's (peace be upon him) sayings: "Muslims are bound by their conditions," "The wealth of a Muslim person is not lawful unless with his willing consent," and "Whoever precedes to a permissible thing has a greater right to it." This applies whether the owner of these programs is a Muslim or a non-belligerent disbeliever. If the program owner explicitly prohibits only public copying, then it is permissible to copy them for private use. However, if they prohibit both public and private copying, then it is absolutely impermissible to copy them.