An optical disk storing write-once information usable for protecting the
copyright of the software by preventing the duplication, unauthorized
use, etc., of the software. In the optical disk, a recording layer (213)
is formed on a disk substrate (211) with a dielectric layer (212)
inbetween. Then, an intermediate dielectric layer (214) and a reflecting
layer (215) are successively laminated upon the recording layer (213),
and an overcoat layer (216) is formed on the surface of the reflecting
layer (215). A plurality of BCA (one of write-once identification
information systems) sections (220a and 220b) are recorded by lowering
the vertical magnetic anisotropy of the recording layer (213). At the
time of reproduction, the write-once information is detected from
differential signals.