text: why do they sell dvd recorders and blank dvd discs if it's illegal to copy or download a film ?   famous case mpaa verse sony sony won the case was against the beta vcr supreme court said they ( manufactuers ) could not be responsible for what the end user ( you  the comsumer ) does with there product ( though lately that trend seems to reversing in court with dmca ), cassettes ( remember them ? ) were challanged in court and lost compact discs as well, and lost the rio by diamond products, the 1st mp3 player, was also challanged even though it was a player, as the riaa argue that the device promoted pirating.. again the sony case was used for reference  also these devices are covered under the fair use laws be glad you do not live in canada where there they have a "pirate" tax on all blank cd/dvd media sold basically in effect saying you probally gonna pirate, so we charge you anyways, there justice is backwards.