Patent ID: 8037543

Claim:
An image processing apparatus comprising: a processor that alters a first image file stored in a removable storage medium to generate a second image file, wherein the processor stores the second image file in the removable storage medium without deleting the first image file from the removable storage medium if the first image file includes authentication data that is used to authenticate whether or not the first image file has been altered, wherein the processor inquires whether or not to overwrite the first image file stored in the removable storage medium with the second image file if the first image file does not include the authentication data, wherein the processor overwrites the first image file stored in the removable storage medium with the second image file if a user selects to overwrite the first image file stored in the removable storage medium with the second image file, and wherein the processor stores the second image file in a predetermined folder without overwriting the first image file stored in the removable storage medium with the second image file if the user selects not to overwrite the first image file stored in the removable storage medium with the second image file.