Image processing apparatus and method

An image processing apparatus comprising:

• first storage means for storing image information as image data in a detachable storage unit;
• second storage means for determining whether the image information stored in said storage unit is a copy-prohibited image, and storing determination information indicating the determination result in said storage unit in correspondence with the image data;
• image formation control means for permitting formation of an image of the image data stored in said storage unit when the determination information corresponding to the image data permits copy operation;
• detection means for detecting occurrence of detachment of said storage unit in the past;
• and
• prohibition means for prohibiting operation of said apparatus when said detection means detects occurrence of detachment of said storage unit in the past.

An image processing method comprising:

• the first storage step of storing image information as image data in a detachable storage unit;
• the second storage step of determining whether the image information stored in said storage unit is a copy-prohibited image, and storing determination information indicating the determination result in said storage unit in correspondence with the image data;
• the image formation control step of permitting formation of an image of the image data stored in said storage unit when the determination information corresponding to the image data permits copy operation;
• the detection step of detecting occurrence of detachment of said storage unit in the past;
• and
• the erase step of erasing contents stored in said storage unit when occurrence of detachment of said storage unit in the past is detected in the detection step.

An image processing method comprising:

• the first storage step of storing image information as image data in a detachable storage unit;
• the second storage step of determining whether the image information stored in said storage unit is a copy-prohibited image, and storing determination information indicating the determination result in said storage unit in correspondence with the image data;
• the image formation control step of permitting formation of an image of the image data stored in said storage unit when the determination information corresponding to the image data permits copy operation;
• the detection step of detecting occurrence of detachment of said storage unit in the past;
• and
• the prohibition step of prohibiting operation of said apparatus when occurrence of detachment of said storage unit in the past is detected in the detection step.

A storage medium storing a control program for making a computer control image formation processing, the control program comprising:

• a code for the first storage step of storing image information as image data in a detachable storage unit;
• a code for the second storage step of determining whether the image information stored in said storage unit is a copy-prohibited image, and storing determination information indicating the determination result in said storage unit in correspondence with the image data;
• a code for the image formation control step of permitting formation of an image of the image data stored in said storage unit when the determination information corresponding to the image data permits copy operation;
• a code for the detection step of detecting occurrence of detachment of said storage unit in the past;
• and
• a code for the erase step of erasing contents stored in said storage unit when occurrence of detachment of said storage unit in the past is detected in the detection step.

A storage medium storing a control program for making a computer control image formation processing, the control program comprising:

• a code for the first storage step of storing image information as image data in a detachable storage unit;
• a code for the second storage step of determining whether the image information stored in said storage unit is a copy-prohibited image, and storing determination information indicating the determination result in said storage unit in correspondence with the image data;
• a code for the image formation control step of permitting formation of an image of the image data stored in said storage unit when the determination information corresponding to the image data permits copy operation;
• a code for the detection step of detecting occurrence of detachment of said storage unit in the past;
• and
• a code for the prohibition step of prohibiting operation of said apparatus when occurrence of detachment of said storage unit in the past is detected in the detection step.