Copy control method

A copy control method for receiving digital contents and copy control information including a first information and a second information which controls copying the digital contents, and for copying the digital contents from a first recording apparatus to a second recording apparatus according to the copy control information, wherein,

• when a first information included in the received control information indicates copy generation information permitting “Copy One Generation”,
• if a second information included in the received copy control information indicates “Copy Free with Limit of the Number” permitting a predetermined copy number of multiple copies,
• then the digital contents can be recorded and managed in the first recording apparatus in a state where it is permitted to copy the digital contents up to the predetermined copy number, and the digital contents recorded and managed in the first recording apparatus are moved to the second recording apparatus with the predetermined copy number being kept;
• and further
• if the digital contents are copied from the first recording apparatus through LAN to the second recording apparatus,
• then authentication is executed between the first recording apparatus and the second recording apparatus, and a dedicated key information is shared to be used for confirming the capability of move processing with the predetermined copy number being kept and encrypting/decrypting the digital contents moved with the predetermined copy number being kept, and then
• the digital contents recorded and managed in the first recording apparatus is added with the information about the predetermined copy number of copies, and transmitted.