Unauthorized use prevention method for optical disks, optical disk having unauthorized use prevention function, and optical disk apparatus

A method for preventing unauthorized use of a recording medium having a user accessible area and a user inaccessible area which can be accessed in an operational mode unusable by said user the method comprising the steps of:

• (a) reading first information from a storage portion of a read only area in the user inaccessible area, which can be accessed in an operational mode unusable by said user, of the recording medium using a predetermined address;
• (b) comparing the first information with second information designed to be stored in the storage portion of the read only area of a true recording medium specified by said predetermined address;
• and
• (c) concluding that the recording medium is the true recording medium when the first information matches the second information.

A method for preventing unauthorized use of a recording medium having a user accessible area and a user inaccessible area which can be accessed in an operational mode unusable by said user, the method comprising the steps of:

• (a) generating a write instruction to record data in a storage area of the recording medium specified by a predetermined address indicating a read only area of a true recording medium;
• (b) determining whether or not the data can be recorded on the recording medium;
• and
• (c) concluding that the recording medium is the true recording medium when it is determined that the data cannot be recorded on the recording medium.

A method for preventing unauthorized use of a recording medium having a user accessible area and a user inaccessible area which can be accessed in an operational mode unusable by said user, the method comprising the steps of:

• (a) reading predetermined information from a predetermined storage area of the recording medium, said predetermined information being necessary to read data from the user accessible area of the recording medium;
• (b) determining whether or not the predetermined information has been read from the predetermined storage area;
• and
• (c) concluding that the recording medium is a true recording medium when it is determined that the predetermined information has been read.

An apparatus for preventing unauthorized use of a recording medium having a user accessible area and a user inaccessible area which can be accessed in an operational mode unusable by said user, said apparatus;

• comprising:
• first means for reading first information from the user inaccessible area, which can be accessed in an operational mode unusable by said user of the recording medium;
• second means, coupled to the first means, for comparing the first information with second information concerning a true recording medium;
• and
• third means, coupled to said first and second means, for concluding that the recording medium is the true recording medium when the first information matches the second information.

An apparatus for preventing unauthorized use of a recording medium having a user accessible area and a user inaccessible area which can be accessed in an operational mode unusable by said user, said apparatus comprising:

• first means for reading first information from a storage portion of a read only area in the user accessible area of the recording medium using a predetermined address;
• second means, coupled to said first means, for comparing the first information with second information designed to be stored in the storage portion of the read only area of a true recording medium specified by said predetermined address;
• and
• third means, coupled to said first and second means, for concluding that the recording medium is the true recording medium when the first information matches the second information.

An apparatus for preventing unauthorized use of a recording medium having a user accessible area and a user inaccessible area which can be accessed in an operational mode unusable by said user, said apparatus comprising:

• first means for generating a write instruction to record data in a storage area of the recording medium specified by a predetermined address indicating a read only area of a true recording medium;
• second means, coupled to said first means, for determining whether or not the data can be recorded on the recording medium;
• and
• third means, coupled to said first and second means, for concluding that the recording medium is the true recording medium when it is determined that the data cannot be recorded on the recording medium.

An apparatus for preventing unauthorized use of a recording medium having a user accessible area and a user inaccessible area which can be accessed in an operational mode unusable by said user, said apparatus comprising:

• first means for reading predetermined information from a predetermined storage area of the recording medium, said predetermined information being necessary to read data from the user accessible area of the recording medium;
• second means, coupled to said first means, for determining whether or not the predetermined information has been read from the predetermined storage area;
• and
• third means, coupled to said first and second means, for concluding that the recording medium is a true recording medium when it is determined that the predetermined information has been read.

An optical disk comprising:

• a user accessible area;
• and
• a user inaccessible area which can be accessed in an operational mode unusable by said user,
• the user inaccessible area which can be accessed in an operational mode unusable by said user, comprising first information to be read and compared with second information concerning a true recording medium in order to determine whether or not the recording medium is the true recording medium.

An optical disk comprising:

• a user accessible area;
• and
• a user inaccessible area which can be accessed in an operational mode unusable by said user,
• the user accessible area comprising a storage portion of a read only area, said storage portion being specified by a predetermined address,
• first information being stored in said storage area to be read and compared with second information designed to be stored in the storage portion of the read only area of a true recording medium in order to determine whether or not the recording medium is the true recording medium.

An optical disk comprising:

• a user accessible area;
• and
• a user inaccessible area which can be accessed in an operational mode unusable by said user,
• predetermined information being stored in either the user accessible area or the user inaccessible area,
• the predetermined information being necessary to read data from the user accessible area of the recording medium.