Copyrighted data processing method and apparatus

摘要

An internal data storage unit (15) stores distributed music data. A copyright management table (16) stores a process right to each music data item. This process right includes a playback right and a right to copy the data to an external storage medium (7). A control unit (17) refers to the process right stored in the copyright management table (16) to determine whether an inputted instruction (30) can be executed or not. If determining that the instruction (30) can be executed, the control unit (17) supplies a control signal (32) to a playback unit (18) or other relevant process unit. A display unit (21) displays on a screen the process right stored in the copyright management table (16) based on an operation mode set in a mode storage unit (20). The playback and copy rights to the music data are displayed by using icons. If an icon indicating a copy right in use is selected, information about the external storage medium (7) to which the data has been copied is displayed. If the instruction (30) that cannot be executed is supplied, a warning screen is displayed.