A recording method is responsive to a user-initiated single instruction, that includes the steps of copying content data from a storage medium loaded in a first apparatus to a data storage device of a second apparatus; and setting a predetermined check-out count from a predetermined count to the predetermined count minus one, the predetermined check-out count including control information corresponding to a predetermined number of times the content data is allowed to be copied to the data storage device. A storage medium driving apparatus implements the recording method described above.