Is it permitted to download applications to the ipod that are on sale, for free? Is there any difference between sepharadic or ashkenaz?
Answer:
Many authorities maintain that applications that are copyrighted, and which are protected under the law, may not be downloaded for free. This can be because of principle ownership of copyright, but according to most it derives from other halachic principles, such as deriving benefit at another’s loss, the obligation to abide by the laws of the land, and others.
However, on account of authorities that are lenient, one cannot prohibit this outright.
Yet, where the source is a Jewish company/individual, one should certainly be stringent.
We have expounded on the different rationales used in Torah copyright law in a separate article on the topic.
