Image forming apparatus

Abstract

Copy discouraging information which is used for prohibiting or discouraging copying of image information is formed so that it can be positively recognized by a copy machine. The copy discouraging information which is used for prohibiting or discouraging copying is printed so that the number, position and shape of the items of the copy discouraging information are made different depending upon the importance degree of the image information to be printed. If the image information has, for example, a relatively higher importance degree, a plurality of items of the copy discouraging information are printed in the inner sides and in the vicinity of four sides of recording paper. When someone tries to copy this recording paper by the copy machine, presence of the copy discouraging information can be immediately recognized in the copy machine regardless of the scanning direction.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.