Patent ID: 7587048

Claim:
An information output apparatus for outputting recording information and copy control information to an information recording apparatus which records the recording information and copy control information into a recording medium, the information output apparatus comprising: a generating device for generating copy control information indicating a number of times the recording information can be recorded; a multiplexing device for multiplexing the copy control information, which is generated by the generating device, and the recording information; an output device for outputting the multiplexed information to the information recording apparatus; and a determining device for determining whether an instruction for a high-speed distribution is issued, wherein the recording information is distributed at a higher speed than the reproducing speed; wherein, the generating device generates a sign that indicates no more copies are allowed as the copy control information if it is determined that the instructions for high-speed distribution is issued; and wherein the sign that indicates no more copies is generated at the information output apparatus before being transmitted to the recording apparatus, such that the information recording apparatus records the recording information and the copy control information as modified by the information output apparatus into the recording medium without further modifying the copy control information.