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Ruling on digital services license?

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Assalāmu ʿalaykum wa raḥmatullāh, I have a question regarding the Islamic ruling on the use of paid digital software and licenses. I run an educational website. Some software (like learning management systems or WordPress plugins/themes) have free and paid “Pro/Business” versions. Paid versions require purchasing a license directly from the company and are restricted to the purchaser or to client websites managed by the license owner. In my case: I did not buy the paid license directly. A third person who owns a license activated the Pro/Business version on my website for a small payment. I do not have access to the official account and do not manage the license. I only use the Pro features on my site. The software company does not allow selling or sharing license activations. My questions are: Is it permissible in Shariah to continue using such paid software when the license is owned by another person and not purchased officially in my name? Does paying that person make it permissible if the software company did not authorize resale or sharing? If this usage is not permissible, is there any sin for past use due to ignorance? Is it required to stop using the paid features and switch to the free version unless the license is purchased officially? Kindly provide guidance according to Islamic principles. Jazākumullāhu khayran.
Asked by Syed Burhan (1 rep)
Feb 15, 2026, 07:28 PM