As for blaming the tool for what the users do: I believe this has been tested in court with the Sony vs. Universal City Studios case (The Betamax case).
Since the recorder wasn't explicitly made for breaking the law, the makes of the recorder can't be held accountable.
Since the recorder wasn't explicitly made for breaking the law, the makes of the recorder can't be held accountable.
[1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sony_Corp._of_America_v._Univer....