The Ruling on Copying Owned Tapes

Question:
Honorable Shaykh, the questioner asks: What is the ruling on copying tapes and distributing them, despite the notation "copying rights reserved" or another phrase indicating that permission to copy has not been granted? We are a government body concerned with awareness, guidance, and the distribution of beneficial tapes and books, and we have copying devices from the direct authorities.

Answer:
It is not permissible to copy tapes if they are marked "recording rights reserved," just as it is not permissible to print a book if it is marked "printing rights reserved," because these are people's rights, and it is not permissible to encroach upon them without their permission. If you want these tapes, seek permission from the recording companies that recorded them. First, obtain their permission; if they grant it, then copy them, or buy from them the quantity of tapes you want and distribute them. As for encroaching on people's rights when they prevent this and do not allow it, this is not permissible. Yes, they labored over them and spent money on them by recording them. They have the right to benefit from them financially and materially, because they did this work as a matter of trade and commerce, not as a matter of public accountability (hisbah). So do not encroach upon it. Yes.