Patent ID: 8204226

Claim:
An encoding and recording apparatus for encoding a content key and recording the content key in a key storage medium when the content key corresponding to encoded content recorded in a content storage medium is input, the key storage medium having a protected area, and a user area, the protected area being protected by an equipment authentication, the user area not being protected by the equipment authentication, the encoding and recording apparatus comprising: an equipment authentication means for executing the equipment authentication with the key storage medium; first encoding means for encoding fixed information which is input in advance and different for each user, and for writing the obtained encoded fixed information in the protected area of the key storage medium after the equipment authentication; decoding means for obtaining fixed information by decoding the encoded fixed information in the protected area; and second encoding means for encoding the content key based on at least one of the fixed information obtained by the decoding means and newly input fixed information, and for writing the obtained encoded content key in user area of the storage medium other than the protected area, the obtained encoded content key not being written in the protected area, wherein the content storage medium and the key storage medium are physically different mediums.