System and method for decrypting and printing images

摘要

An object of the present invention is to provide a printing system in which a user can obtain permission to use an encrypted copyrighted image by paying a royalty to a creator of the image so as to print the image, a printing method, and an ink tank which can be used to attain the printing system. The printing system comprises a computer 101 and a printer 100 which is connected to the computer 101. The computer 101 can acquire an encrypted image with a print key which is distributed from an Internet distribution company 102. The printer 100 has an ink tank 103 replaceably mounted thereon, and the ink tank 103 incorporates a security chip 104. The security chip 104 contains a certificate key, generates a decryption key from a combination of the certificate key and the print key, and decrypts the encrypted image into print data which can be printed by the printer 100 by use of the decryption key.