[gr8fl4porsche]

It all depends on motive.

If one intended on purchasing a copy of Beyonce's latest album but instead downloaded it, thus pulling income out of her and the record company's pocket - then it is stealing.

If your buddy burns you a copy of Guns and Roses latest album, you listen to it, decide it is garbage and proceed to toss it into the trash (having never intended on purchasing it in the first place), then it is not stealing. No loss to any party involved except the word of mouth advertising that Axle is washed up. Now if one loved the album and decided to keep the burned copy in lieu of purchasing the original, then it reverts back to the theft argument.

This argument is not black and white. It depends on why you are sharing files.

TV Show sharing is another argument. If I forget to set my DVR to record this weeks 2.5 men, which I would have watched while forwarding through the commercials - is it wrong to download the torrent from Pirate Bay and give it a watch? I don't see how any party is harmed or robbed.