We left a (kids Purim) CD in America when we were there. Are we allowed to borrow it from someone here and burn it onto the computer because we technically own a copy? Or, since if we don’t have a way to get one, we would consider buying a new one, is that gezel?
Thank you,
Gut Shabbos.
Answer:
Under the circumstances, one can be lenient to copy the CD.
If you wanted, you might also be able to get somebody to get into your house, copy the CD, and send it over. The idea of the Copyright protection is not to cause you trouble, but to ensure that no illegal copies are made. In your case, the sevara dictates that the restriction should not apply.
Although many poskim uphold copyright protection in Torah law, the Torah copyright law is not more exacting than secular copyright law, and in these circumsatnces it is hard to imagine that a prohibition will stand.
