This invention provides an image transmission method, image anti-duplication method, image anti-duplication device, and image recording medium in which the information for anti-duplication control is superimposed on the video signal without deterioration of the resultant video signal and the information is extracted accurately and quickly to perform anti-duplication control. The output device starts generation of PN code correspondingly to the PN code start timing signal T1 generated based on the video sync signal. One chip interval of the PN code is divided to a plurality of divided chips correspondingly to the PN code inversion timing signal HT, and the original value of the chip is inverted on alternate one divided interval to generate the PN inversion code. The anti-duplication control signal is subjected to spectral spreading using the PN inversion code and superimposed on the video signal. In the recording device which receives supply of the video signal from the output device, inversion spectral spreading is performed based on the PN inversion code generated in the same way as that generated in the output device.