חדש באתר: NotebookLM עם כל תכני הרב מיכאל אברהם

Q&A: Copyright Infringement

Back to list  |  🌐 עברית  |  ℹ About
Originally published:
This is an English translation (via GPT-5.4). Read the original Hebrew version.

Copyright Infringement

Question

Hello Honorable Rabbi,
My daughter downloaded PDF files of books (science fiction books) and read them in violation of copyright.
I do not accept this.a0
Can I tell her that it is now her halakhic obligation to buy the books in some store? This is aside from educational, legal, and moral considerations.a0
Thank you.

Answer

It is not clear. She could also borrow them from a library. I do not think there is an obligation to pay here, although it truly is improper, and apparently also actually forbidden, to do this.a0

Discussion on Answer

Avner (2021-05-05)

Thank you very much.
What does the Rabbi advise me to do from an educational standpoint?
In my professional work, all the products are intellectual property, and thieves really bother me, also on a personal level. First, this is literally stealing the labor of others, and second, if the number of thieves grows, the whole market will collapse and everyone will lose from it. The thieves are leeches living off prices that other honest people pay, and in my eyes this is despicable behavior. Although in my youth I also downloaded movies, games, and software through torrents and the like, because I was less aware of the issue.
I want to demand of my daughter, just as I have learned to demand of myself, things that seem right to me, while still maintaining the clear distinction between Jewish law and what seems right to me for various reasons.

Tolginus (2021-05-05)

If you can borrow it from a library for a while, then it seems like a good idea actually to take it and keep it for a reasonable period of time, because borrowing from a library entitles the copyright holders of the book to royalties, and in addition, if demand for the book rises, then perhaps the library will buy another copy.

Michi (2021-05-05)

Tolginus, here there is harm to the library (you cause them to buy a book they were not supposed to buy, although one can debate this).

Avner, I suggest exactly what you wrote. Tell your daughter that it is improper, and perhaps even actually halakhically forbidden, to do this (and it is also forbidden legally). But halakhically there is no obligation to pay (I do not know regarding the law. Ask a lawyer). Present the various options to her and what you recommend, and she is the one who should decide.

Leave a Reply

Back to top button