This invention relates to a reproducing apparatus compatible with a storage medium storing copyright-protected and copyright-unprotected files, the reproducing apparatus being capable of reproducing any one of the files stored on the medium, the reproducing apparatus comprising: demodulating means for demodulating any one of the copyright-protected files in one way and any one of the copyright-unprotected files in a different way; selective operation executing means operated to select either any one of the copyright-protected files or any one of the copyright-unprotected files as a file to be reproduced; and controlling means for causing the demodulating means to select one of the two different ways of demodulation depending on whether a copyright-protected file or a copyright-unprotected file has been selected by operation of the selective operation executing means.