Copying, dubbing or reproducing copyrighted digital data can be inhibited
or restricted to properly protect a copyright. AV data recorded on a pre-recorded
tape is output from a reproducing unit of a first digital VCR with protective information
indicating whether the copy of the AV data is inhibited or not. The protective
information is input with the A/V data to a second digital VCR. Copy permission
information of a blank tape loaded in the second digital VCR is discriminated and
the second digital VCR records the AV data supplied from the first digital VCR
based on the protective information and the copy permission information.
