Apparatus for protection of data reproduction according to protection data and first and second apparatus protection data to determine whether main data at specified positions are reproduced in their entirety, partially, or not at all

A reproduction protection method for operating on main data which are conveyed by a data medium, the method comprising the steps of:

• detecting medium protection data which are specific to each of predetermined data pieces within said main data and are also conveyed by said data medium;
• detecting protection position information which specifies a position of said predetermined data pieces within said main data at which to apply reproduction protection, said protection position information also being conveyed by said data medium;
• assigning a medium protection level in units of video signal frames, based upon said medium protection data;
• limiting reproduction of said main data based upon at least a film classification system;
• generating apparatus protection data which comprise at least first apparatus protection data and second apparatus protection data,
• wherein said first apparatus protection data are specific to a region or country in which said main data are to be reproduced and can not be modified by a recipient of said reproduced main data, and wherein said second apparatus protection data can be modified by said recipient to selectively define a plurality of protection levels including at least two levels which are respectively specific to adults and to children;
• defining a protection level based on said medium protection data and said apparatus protection data in combination;
• and
• executing reproduction of said main data in accordance with said protection level,
• wherein the combination of said medium protection data and said first apparatus protection data determines whether said main data are reproduced in their entirety or not at all, and the combination of said medium protection data and said second apparatus protection data determines whether said main data are reproduced in their entirety, partially, or not at all.