How to Avoid Google Duplicate Content Penalty?

[lbohen]

We offer thousands of audio books at our online store. The publisher's description of the story and the author's / performer's bios are easily copied and pasted into our description however Google considers this duplicate content.

I would think that many online merchants of products such as auto parts, books, computer parts, lamps, electronics... would find it cost prohibitive to create unique descriptions (different than the manufacturer's) for each product. I would like to know the following:

1. Do you use the manufacturer's description for products offered at your website?
2. Do you believe Google has devalued your store because of duplicate content?
3. What do you do to avoid a Google duplicate content penalty?

[MgmtSpec]

Working on a musical instrument website with 4,000 items similar concern. It comes down to 'reputation' of your website. Very large, older, trusted sites will likely incur no penalty. In fact, original content site can be penalized IF Google finds the content on a site it deems reputable prior to finding it on the 'original' site. This may change if the sites use the meta AUTHOR info. I doubt considering the size and amount of products you carry that you will get a penalty.