[bvw]

The content manufacturers lose money each time someone uses a peer-to-peer program to send a pirated movie or piece of music to another person via the Internet.

This is untrue. They may lose what would have been a sale, but they do not lose money. Potential money is not real money.

Let's look at "potential" money. Say if Jake steals next week's lottery ticket from Sam, could Sam sue for the jackpot -- or just for the purchase price? If we use "potential sale" theory the value stolen is the whole of the jackpot.

[PDR]

not if it is a losing ticket

[free_at_jsl.com]

It also needs to be said that if you apply the **AA's logic in other scenarios, real problems start popping up. For example, should firearm manufacturers be prosecuted each time somebody uses a gun in an illegal manner? Their products have both legal and illegal uses. It's up to the product user, not the manufacturer to bear the responsibility for illegal use.