A storage apparatus is capable of using a storage medium having at least a first region for storing therein data and a second region for storing therein both use permission discrimination information indicative of permission of a predetermined access operation and use limit information with respect to the storage medium. The storage apparatus comprises a reading unit for reading the use limit information from the second region of the storage medium prior to an access to the storage medium, a collating unit for collating use permission discrimination information provided for a comparison purpose with the use permission discrimination information read out from the second region of the storage medium in the case that the use limit information indicates an "access not-allowed condition", and a writing unit for rewriting the use limit information into such information indicative of an "access allowed condition" when it is confirmed by the collation that the former use permission discrimination information coincides with the latter use permission discrimination information read out from the second region. As a result, an unauthorized use of the storage medium is prevented, improving security.