Patent ID: 7802311

Claim:
A recording apparatus which executes copy control utilizing copy control information which is formed by plural bits of digital data and indicative of plural types of copy control, comprising: an electronic watermark detection section which detects only a predetermined certain bit of digital data in said copy control information indicative of one type of copy control, without recognizing all of the types of copy control, out of a content over which an electronic watermark expressing said copy control information is superimposed; and a recording section which records said content based on a detection result obtained by said electronic watermark detection section, wherein: said copy control information includes: i) information indicative of “no_more_copy,” ii) information indicative of an allowable copy corresponding to a first condition, and iii) information indicative of an allowable copy corresponding to a second condition, said copy control information enables determination that said content is “no_more_copy” from said information indicative of “no_more_copy” or said information indicative of said first condition or second condition, by using only said predetermined certain bit of digital data, and said recording section (i) does not record said content when said detection result indicates that said content is said “no_more_copy” and (ii) records said content without determining that said copy control information is said information indicative of said first condition or is said information indicative of said second condition, by further analyzing said copy control information when said detection result indicates that said content is said allowable copy.