Penguin publishing group sues Oregon nonprofit for posting whole books online

Publishing giant Penguin Group (USA) Inc. has sued the online library American Buddha, accusing the Oregon nonprofit company of posting to the Web the entire contents of books for which it holds exclusive rights.

Penguin seeks an injunction, as well as damages, for American Buddha's posting of such novels as "Oil!" by Upton Sinclair and "It Can't Happen Here," by Sinclair Lewis. The publisher also accuses the nonprofit of misusing new translations of "The Golden Ass" by Apuleius and "On the Nature of the Universe" by Lucretius.