Downloading files from the internet - Permissibility of torrents

Nowadays, many Muslims download files (Such as music, movies, video clips) from the internet through torrent sites.

Some people say that these sites are haram as the US Government finds torrents illegal as it constitutes of piracy. However, in places in the East (Like Pakistan, India, etc...) pretty much all the movies are all "piracy." If someone in the West uses torrents, is he sinning?

Walaikum assalam wa rahmatullah,

I pray that this finds you well, and in the best of health and spirits. May Allah grant you all good and success in this life and the next.

The downloading of material that is [1] permissible in its content; and [2] permissible to download, given copyright and other laws, is permissible; and the downloading of content that is otherwise is not permissible.

A Muslim is morally-obligated to abide by the laws of the land they live in, and to respect the rights and property of others. The leading scholars of our times, including Mufti Taqi Usmani, Shaykh Wahba Zuhayli, and Shaykh Muhammad Said Ramadan al-Buti, have affirmed that copyright rules are Islamically-binding and need to be followed.

The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) went to far as to affirm, "There is no faith in one who does not fulfill trusts; and there is no religion in one who does not fulfill commitments." [Ahmad]

And Allah alone gives success.

Faraz Rabbani