Is it permissible to download and read for free books published on the Internet that publishing houses prohibit copying or reproducing without written permission?

There is no harm in downloading or reading e-books, whether they were published with or without the permission of their authors, if the purpose is personal benefit and not commercial publication or plagiarism. The intent behind copyright laws is to regulate commercial benefits and prevent counterfeiting, not to completely withhold access to benefit. Sheikh Ibn Uthaymeen issued a fatwa permitting photocopying for personal use, but not for commercial use. Electronic publishing is a parallel market to paper publishing and does not nullify it.