Does downloading movies and games for free from the internet conflict with intellectual property rights, and is what is learned or gained from them, in terms of lessons or skills, considered unlawful (haram) or lacking blessing?
Source: FtawySummary from Ftawy's records · added here Sep 2, 2026
Watching movies and playing games is permissible provided they adhere to regulations. If their content is forbidden, then downloading them is not allowed. However, if they are permissible, it is still not allowed to download them without paying their owners their due value, because that constitutes an infringement on others' property and necessitates compensating the owners. As for any permissible skills learned from them, there is no harm in benefiting from them, while still being obligated to compensate their owners. Sharia violations may affect the benefit derived from materials downloaded through unlawful means.
Summary from Ftawy's records · added here
Reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
Read the full answer on Ftawyhttps://ftawy.com/en/questions/160444
Where this answer came from
- Source platform
- Ftawy
- Original fatwa ID
- 160444
- Added here
- . This is when the answer was added to El Fatwa, not the fatwa's date.
- Text
- Summary from Ftawy's records, reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
- Read the full ruling
- Read the full answer on Ftawy