Question :
A specialized training course consists of recorded videos at a specific price. After paying the subscription fee for the course, a link to the private video channel is sent to the subscriber. What is the ruling on multiple people subscribing by paying for just one subscription, with all of them watching the videos?
The Answer :
All perfect praise be to Allah the Lord of the Worlds. May His peace and blessings be upon Prophet Mohammad and upon all his family and companions.
According to the general rule in Sharia, intellectual property rights are considered established rights for their owners, and they cannot be sold or shared with the general public without their consent. The Islamic Fiqh Academy, during its fifth conference in Kuwait in 1405 AH / 1988 CE, issued a resolution regarding moral rights, such as authorship rights and the like. The resolution includes the following statement: "The trade name, commercial title, trademarks, authorship, invention, or innovation are specific rights of their owners. These rights have a material value in contemporary custom, as people financially compensate for them. These rights are recognized by Sharia, and it is forbidden to infringe upon them."
The general rule is that the purchased link is intended for a specific individual, and it is not permissible for them to share it with others unless permitted by the overseeing authority.
In conclusion, it is not permissible for more than one person to share a link unless permitted by the overseeing authority. And Allah The Almighty Knows Best.
