What is the ruling on using non-genuine copies of Windows that their publishers claim to be genuine? Is it permissible to follow the opinion of some scholars who allow their use for personal purposes? And is the Linux system an Islamic alternative?

Contemporary scholars differed regarding the ruling on copying computer programs without the permission of their owners. Some absolutely prohibited it, while others permitted it for personal use. It is more prudent for a Muslim to avoid buying, copying, and using pirated discs to steer clear of controversy. It is permissible to follow the opinion of those who allow it for personal use if that is based on a conviction of the strength of their argument, and not merely out of seeking dispensations.