Copyright protecting method, recording method, recording apparatus, reproduction method and reproduction apparatus

摘要

A copyright protecting method of scrambling an information signal inputted via an input path and outputting it via an output path is provided. First, a selected condition to eliminate copying of the information signal via an unauthorized path is set. The selected condition includes combinations of a plurality of types of scramble systems applicable to the information signal and a plurality of types of the copy control information. Then, the type of the scramble system of the inputted information signal and the type of the copy control information of the inputted information signal are discriminated. Further, a predetermined scramble system is applied to the inputted information signal and a scrambled output is produced when a combination of the discriminated type of the scramble system and the discriminated type of the copy control information coincides with that included in the selected condition.