Patent ID: 7475430

Claim:
A method for controlling copying of data in a recording apparatus, the method comprising the steps of: inputting the data to be recorded onto a recording medium; converting the input data into a predetermined format which is reproducible in the recording apparatus; determining whether the input data includes information for controlling copying of the data; if the input data does not include the information for controlling copying, then adding copying permission information to the converted data; if the input data includes the information for controlling copying, then: extracting the information for controlling copying included in the input data; receiving, via an operational panel, a copy restriction level from a user; comparing a copy restriction level indicated by the information for controlling copying with the copy restriction level; generating the copy permission information in accordance with the comparing, the copy permission information specifying a type of copy permission to be associated with the data; and adding the copy permission information to the converted data; and recording the converted data with the copy permission information onto the recording medium.