If you read the other thread that has just finished on this subject you will see that in the UK, someone was arrested for doing just that.
So really, it doesn't matter if you see anything moral, ethical or criminal in it, in the UK you can get arrested for it. Thats the thing, it doesn't have to seem criminal to you, but if it is against the law, you can get done for it.
I am sure it is also probably illegal in the states too, and you have much more draconian penalties for the non-celebrity class.