Ruling on Photocopying a Book Which Has “All Rights Reserved” Written Inside of It.

بســـم اللــه الرحــمــن الـرحـــيــم

Our Shaykh, Muhammad ibn Hizaam -may Allaah preserve him- said:

In relation to photocopying books which have “all rights reserved” [written] in them, then whoever needs a copy to benefit from the knowledge [in it], not for business, then there is no harm. It is not allowed to conceal knowledge and the book is not available. There is no harm in photocopying it:

((مَنْ سُئِلَ عَنْ عِلْمٍ فَكَتَمَهُ أَلْجَمَهُ اللَّهُ بِلِجَامٍ مِنْ نَارٍ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ))

"Whoever is asked about knowledge and he conceals it will have a bridle of fire put on him on the Day of Resurrection." 

[Saheeh Abi Dawood no. 3658]

It is not allowed to conceal knowledge. If he intends to buy and sell it, then that is not allowed except with the permission of the publishing house which published the book.

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Translated by:

Faisal Ibn Abdul Qaadir Ibn Hassan

Abu Sulaymaan

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Source:

https://alilmia.net/upload/m/hezam/fatawa/0035_fatawa_11_3_1437h.mp3 

[from the 15:23 mark until 16:20]