Q123 :How far is it permissible to obtain
unauthorized copies of written material on Islam including books,
tapes, videos and netputer programs? Should not the propaganda of Islam
be made easy by the distribution of such material. For example, I have
a set of cassette tapes of the Qur’an in Arabic, with translation in
English which is also covered by copyright laws. Is it unacceptable if
I copy these tapes to give to others who are either unable to purchase
them or cannot afford the price?
A123 : Indeed the propaganda of Islam should be
made easy. But then, this has to be within Islamic rules. Islam does
not allow that the propaganda or the efforts of others be taken away
from them or be exploited without their consent. In order to explain
this problem we should first ask ourselves why do authors, tape
produces and netputer program devisors resort to register their
copyrights. The fact is that some unscrupulous people are always too
ready to make pirate copies of these and sell them at a profit of which
they give no share to the author. What someone has produced after
putting a great deal of effort is thus used to bring financial gains to
others who do not even bother to ask his permission. When you knowingly
buy a pirate copy, then you are aiding such people whose piracy is
certainly forbidden. To be an accessory to piracy is also censurable.
There is a difference, however, between someone who produces a pirate
book or markets pirate tapes and programs and someone who gives his
copy to another in the sort of circumstances which you have mentioned.
When you buy a book, neither the seller nor the publisher nor the
author makes it a condition of the deal that you are the only one to
read that copy. Therefore, when you lend it to someone else to read,
you are not depriving anyone of earning any profit. It could be said,
that had you not lent your friend your book, he would have bought a
copy himself. The likelihood is that he might just as well not have
bothered. Similarly, when you lend your cassette tape to your friend
to copy it, knowing that he either would not have bought it or could
not afford to buy it, then you are not violating the terms of your
purchase. There is no restriction on how many people can use those
tapes when you buy them. However, if you know that your friend who
has borrowed it from you will make so many copies of it and offer them
for sale or make profit out of them, then you are helping him in
producing pirate copies. Therefore, when you lend your copy to him, you
have to be sure that he copies it for private use only.
Our Dialogue ( Source : Arab News – Jeddah )