In a video signal recording apparatus for digitally recording a first video signal, a copyright information detecting unit extracts copyright information inserted in the first video signal. An active period decision signal generating unit detects an active pixel period of the first video signal to generate an active period decision signal. A fixed value output unit outputs a second video signal containing information representing a non-copyrighted work. A selecting unit replaces the first video signal by the second video signal in the active pixel period when it is determined, based on the copyright information and the active period decision signal, that the first video signal indicates information representing a copyrighted work, thereby generating a third video signal.