Unfortunately, pulling cbs on the recorders without good reason (MEL) is illegal. As alluded to above, the presence of recorders on aircraft is to assist bona fide accident investigators to determine the cause of accidents and incidents. The wider public, including the legal trade will at a later stage be able to access the completed analysis published by the appropriate investigation authority. Under no circumstances should any other interested bodies have access to data recorders. The pious presumptiousness of the legal circus that they should have first or any access in order to fuel their greed driven litigation is reprehensible.