Communication system, image processing apparatus, image processing method, authentication server, image managing method, image managing program, and image processing system

摘要

A communication system which is capable of improving the security of a protected image. The protected image on which a predetermined protection process has been carried out and authentication information are transmitted from an information processing apparatus to an image processing apparatus and an authentication server, respectively. Permission information for permitting removal of the predetermined protection process is issued from the authentication server based on the authentication information, and is obtained by the image processing apparatus. When the protected image is subjected to predetermined image processing carried out by the image processing apparatus, the content of the predetermined image processing is regulated to within a predetermined range indicated by the permission information.