Question Summary:
Using material obtained from Copyright Infringement

Question Detail:

 
I am a medical student and have uptil now been using books which are copies of the original ones. It is a fact that my buying of these books will not benefit the author and publishers. I read your questions on copyright infringement and i understand alhumdulillah but my question is that okay the act of violating the copyright is haram but what aboyt the student who uses the book? Is it only the salesman that committed a sin by copying the book or am i party to it by buying what he's selling?  JazakAllah

Answer :

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.
 
The concept of copyrights is governed by Copyright Protection Law which is relaxed by the “Fair Dealing” doctrine. The Fair Dealing doctrine varies in different countries. We are not sure if copying and studying a book for study purpose is restricted by the Copyright Protection Law or it is relaxed by the Fair Dealing doctrine.
You should refer to your local Ulama and local legal experts for their counsel.[1][2]
 
 
And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best
Imran Cyclewala
Student Darul Iftaa
Lusaka, Zambia
 
Checked and Approved by,
Mufti Ebrahim Desai.