Patent ID: 7418735

Claim:
A transmitter for selectively transmitting a non-copy protected content signal or a copyright protected processed content signal to a connected receiver, comprising: transmission processing means for selectively processing a content signal for copyright protection, thereby producing a copyright protected processed content signal; logic means for determining by an authentication process whether a connected receiver is operable to function in accordance with copyright protection encryption technology; transmission controlling means for holding information indicating those receivers that are not enabled to copy content by using either the content signal or the copyright protected processed content signal and for controlling the signal transmitted by the transmitter according to whether or not information indicating the connected receiver is included in the held information, such that said non-copy protected content signal is transmitted if said connected receiver is not enabled to copy content; and means for monitoring for a change in connection of the receiver connected to said transmitter while said non-copy protected content signal is being transmitted, to control said transmitter to prohibit transmission of a non-copy protected content signal and to change over to enable transmission of a copyright protected processed content signal when a change in the connected receiver is detected.