Control over processing of image data in a system comprising a plurality of scanning devices and a plurality of printing devices, each of which may or may not include a forgery-preventing function. An image processing apparatus receives information for each of the plurality of scanning devices and printing devices indicating whether or not they include a forgery-preventing function. When image data is received by the image processing apparatus, the image processing apparatus controls the processing of which printing apparatus the image data can be sent to for printing. If the image data is received from a scanning apparatus that includes a forgery-preventing function, the image data can be sent to any printing device, regardless of whether or not it includes a forgery-preventing function. If the image data is received from a scanning apparatus that does not include a forgery-preventing function, the image can be sent only to a printing device that does include a forgery-preventing function. Further, a display of available printers to which an operator can select to send the image data may be provided for, with the displayed available printers being controlled based on whether the image data is received from a scanning device that includes a forgery-preventing function or not.

 
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> Method of using plural watermarks to prevent unauthorized image copying

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