Recording and reproducing apparatus with limited digital copying

摘要

A composite digital signal received by a recording and reproducing apparatus includes a digital information signal and a control signal. The control signal represents a number of digital copy generation of the associated information signal. The information signal of the received digital composite signal is recorded into recording medium. The information signal is reproduced from the recording medium. During the reproduction of the information signal, a new control signal is generated which represents a number equal to one plus the number represented by the control signal of the received composite digital signal. The new control signal and the reproduced information signal are combined into a new composite digital signal. The new composite digital signal is outputted. A check is made as to whether or not the number represented by the control signal of the received composite digital signal is equal to a predetermined number. When the number represented by the control signal of the received composite digital signal is equal to the predetermined number, the recording of the information signal of the received composite digital signal is inhibited.