Information recording medium, information recording method, information recording apparatus and information reproducing apparatus

An apparatus for reproducing information recorded on an information recording medium including a volume space for recording user data;

• a spare area including a replacement area which is usable in place of a defective area included in the volume space;
• and a defect management information area for recording defect management information for managing the defective area, the defect management information including status information indicating whether the defective area is replaced by the replacement area, the apparatus comprising:
• a determination section for determining whether the defective area is replaced by the replacement area with reference to the status information;
• and
• a control section for controlling a reproduction operation of the user data according to the determination result,
• wherein when the defective area is not replaced by the replacement area, the control section outputs data having a fixed value as data obtained by reproducing the defective area, regardless of data in the defective area.