Hi minister,<\/p>\n
Is downloading a paid software without paying for it a sin? Note that no hacking or cracking is involved on the side of the downloader. It is a case of seeing it online and downloading (copying) it. The owner still has a copy.<\/p>\n
Is it good to buy a second-hand device with cracked software and using the software installed on it? Should I uninstall them all and buy them?<\/p>\n
Should I refuse the service someone does for me with any software gotten illegally?<\/p>\n
Thanks<\/p>\n\t
Copyright laws exist to give the creator of something the right to control copies of his work. In general, no one can make a copy of another person’s work without the permission of the creator.<\/p>\n
When you purchase software, you are paying money in exchange for the right to receive a copy of that software. The terms of the agreement made during that purchase lay out what may be done with the copied software. Some terms restrict the use to one machine, others allow use on up to a certain number of machines.<\/p>\n
If you download software that someone else purchased and do so without the purchaser’s knowledge, then you are either stealing his ability to install his software on multiple machines. You might also place the purchaser in a position that looks like he has violated the terms of his purchase when he has not. This is not “treat people the same way you want them to treat you<\/em>” (Matthew 7:12).<\/p>\n If you purchase a device with stolen software on it and make use of it, then you are supporting the original thieves (Romans 1:32).<\/p>\n When you purchase a service from someone, what you are purchasing is their service. You have no control over how they do their business or where they get their tools. However, if you know someone is using stolen tools in their trade, then that is a mark of a person who is not reliable or morally responsible. It is not a good decision to use a corrupt person for something you need. “He cuts off his own feet and drinks violence who sends a message by the hand of a fool<\/em>” (Proverbs 26:6).<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Question: Hi minister, Is downloading a paid software without paying for it a sin? Note that no hacking or cracking is involved on the side of the downloader. It is a case of seeing it online and downloading (copying) it. The owner still has a copy. Is it good to buy a second-hand device with cracked…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[20],"tags":[310,38,526],"class_list":["post-25647","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-answer","tag-government","tag-morality","tag-stealing"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":24794,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/what-if-the-used-software-i-bought-doesnt-allow-for-resale-what-should-i-do\/","url_meta":{"origin":25647,"position":0},"title":"What if the used software I bought doesn’t allow for resale? What should I do?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"October 20, 2010","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: Hi. This may seem like an odd question. In the past, I have bought used computer games, sold computer games, and installed computer games on my computer. My brother bought and games that were my stepdad's. According to the terms of agreement in many computer software, you do not\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":32544,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/i-received-an-unofficial-cd-containing-songs-i-know-are-copyrighted-what-should-i-do\/","url_meta":{"origin":25647,"position":1},"title":"I received an unofficial CD containing songs I know are copyrighted. What should I do?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"April 16, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: A song leader from another congregation had burnt a CD from a group of people who recorded songs from the Hymns for Worship hymnal, to try and teach song leaders how to lead some of the less used songs in the book.\u00a0He had given it to my grandpa years\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":32695,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/your-recent-article-on-patriotism-is-a-necessary-reminder\/","url_meta":{"origin":25647,"position":2},"title":"Your recent article on patriotism is a necessary reminder","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"February 27, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: Your recent article on patriotism is a necessary reminder. We stray a lot without noticing it. I found much value in that article. I'm downloading it for keeps. More lessons relevant to periods like this (around the world) are very helpful. Thanks. Answer: I'm glad you found it useful.\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":53433,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/can-i-keep-the-software-i-pirated-until-i-can-pay-the-companies-back\/","url_meta":{"origin":25647,"position":3},"title":"Can I keep the software I pirated until I can pay the companies back?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"June 9, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: I've pirated plenty of software. I have stopped, but I need some of the software to get a certification. Is it possible that once I get a job, I could pay back the companies and replace the software with legitimate software? 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