pirate

Lost book sales can't be quantified, making it impossible to calculate e-piracy's full economic impact. But the sheer number of illegal copies available for download gives an idea of the scope. It translates into a staggering amount of royalties being stolen from authors.

Scot Sandra Burt was singing to herself to pass the time as she stocked shelves at the grocery store where she works, in Clackmannashire, Scotland. Imagine her surprise when the UK's Performing Right Society (PRS), sent her a letter warning that she could be fined for singing songs written by its...