The DMCA is of particular interest because it's a potential counterexample of your assertion that other tools or intent are necessary to make distribution of a

The DMCA is of particular interest because it's a potential counterexample of your assertion that other tools or intent are necessary to make distribution of a number illegal. The whole point is that it's a bad law, primarily because it's unclear what it prevents you from doing. The law is pretty clear, though, on stabbing people and committing espionage.