Patent ID: 7403616

Claim:
An electronic apparatus for performing a plurality of processes on digital data, said plurality of processes including a specific process, the execution of which is restricted in advance, comprising: a data storage device that stores digital data, said data storage device capable of storing digital audio data or digital image data taken in from a source outside of the electronic apparatus in accordance with the specific process; a setting information storage device that can be mounted with a removable recording medium and stores information indicative of a setting of a set specific function in the removable recording medium; a recording section for storing the information in the mounted removable recording medium; a notification section that notifies a user of a message calling the user's attention to the presence of copyright protection for digital data subjected to the specific process in response to an instruction issued on the specific process; a function-setting section that sets a specific function for removing restriction on the execution of the specific process when the user indicates an acceptance to the contents of the message, notifies the user of a warning message informing the user that the copying of the digital data is permitted solely for personal use, and records information indicative of the setting of the set specific function to the mounted removable recording medium, said function-setting section sets the specific function upon the user inputting an instruction for setting the specific function; an execution restriction-removal section that removes the restriction on the execution of the specific process and stops the function of said notification section, based on the information indicative of the setting of the set specific function; and an inhibiting section that inhibits said notification section from notifying the user of the message upon the user's acceptance to the contents of the message.