Question: A man photocopied a book which has “all rights reserved” [written] in it because he is not able to obtain a copy of the book which is available for sale. So what is the ruling on this action?
Answer: “In relation to photocopying books which have “all rights reserved” [written] in them, then whoever needs a copy to benefit from the knowledge [in it], not for business, then there is no harm. It is not allowed to conceal knowledge and the book is not available. There is no harm in photocopying it:
مَنْ سُئِلَ عَنْ عِلْمٍ فَكَتَمَهُ أَلْجَمَهُ اللَّهُ بِلِجَامٍ مِنْ نَارٍ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ
Whoever is asked about knowledge and he conceals it will have a bridle of fire put on him on the Day of Resurrection
[Saheeh Abi Dawood no. 3658]
It is not allowed to conceal knowledge. If he intends to buy and sell it, then that is not allowed except with the permission of the publishing house which published the book”
[https://alilmia.net/upload/m/hezam/fatawa/0035_fatawa_11_3_1437h.mp3 from the 15:23 mark until 16:20]
Translated by
Faisal bin Abdul Qaadir bin Hassan
Abu Sulaymaan