I don't know where to start. It's so stupid yet serious.

Sony's Betamax,home video cassette recorders are accused of illegal acts. Universal City Studios and Walt Disney Productions say Betamax and other video recording machines are used to violate the copyright laws. They want Sony restrained from selling Betamaxes and Betamax cassettes where this hardware/software is used to record/playback copyrighted material. (Like making it illegal to sell guns if they're going to be used to shoot people.)

TV shows are not free. It's okay to watch them. But if a consumer records a tv show to watch it at some time other than its moment of broadcast, the consumer winds up behind bars for copyright infringement.