Patent ID: 7239585

Claim:
An information recording apparatus comprising: an encoding device which encodes record information to be recorded on a recording medium in a specific encoding scheme for allowing decode by a plurality of types of information reproducing apparatuses to generate encoded record information; a generating device which, when the record information is distributed from an outside and includes reproduction control information for controlling reproduction aspects on reproduction of encoded distributed record information obtained by encoding the distributed record information by the encoding device, generates applicable reproduction control information for controlling the reproduction aspects on actual reproduction of the encoded distributed record information after recording it on the recording medium, based on the reproduction control information which is distributed; a first recording device which records on the recording medium the applicable reproduction control information which is generated and the encoded distributed record information which is encoded; and a second recording device which, when the record information is the distributed record information, records on the recording medium identification information indicating that the encoded distributed record information recorded on the recording medium is the encoded distributed record information obtained by encoding the distributed record information.