COPYRIGHT PROTECTIVE SYSTEM, TRANSMITTER, RECEIVER, BRIDGE DEVICE, COPYRIGHT PROTECTIVE METHOD, MEDIUM, AND PROGRAM

摘要

In the case that a bridge unit is connected to a network such as an IEEE 1394 bus, the desire of copyright holders for limitation on the number of apparatuses that can receive a signal cannot be met. The invention is characterized by providing at least one reception unit, or more, that receives and utilizes data requiring copyright protection, connected to a network and by providing a transmission unit 20 for transmitting data requiring copyright protection to a reception unit by utilizing a network, wherein the transmission unit 20 has an authentication means 23 on the transmission side for carrying out authentication for a reception unit and an authentication number counting means 24 for counting the authentication number that is the number of the authentications carried out by the authentication means 23 on the transmission side while the reception unit has an authentication means on the reception side for carrying out authentication for the authentication means on the transmission side and wherein the above authentication number is limited.