Patent ID: 7730348

Claim:
A device for recording information in blocks having logical addresses, wherein the device comprises recording means for recording marks in a track on a record carrier representing the information, and control means for controlling the recording by locating each block at a physical address in the track, the control means comprising defect management means for translating the logical addresses into the physical addresses and vice versa in dependence of defect management information in a defect management area according to a predefined recording format, the defect management information including defect entries indicating locations for replacing defective physical addresses, a read-only state of the record carrier being obtainable via a no-replacement state indicated by substantially none of the defect entries being free for use, and read-only control means for setting the record carrier to the read-only state by: reading original replacement information indicating a writable state from the defect management area, the original replacement information at least including at least one defect entry being free for use, storing the original replacement information in a hidden area, and modifying the defect management information to the no-replacement state; wherein the read-only control means include re-open means for resetting the record carrier from the read-only state to the writable state by: retrieving the original replacement information from the hidden location, modifying the defect management information to the writable state in dependence of the original replacement information.