Content duplication management system and networked apparatus

A content duplication management system comprising a first device that belongs to a group, and a second device connected to said first device via a network,

• wherein said first device includes:
• a storage unit storing a content and a permitted number of duplications, which represents a number of times that the content is able to be duplicated, the permitted number of duplications being a sum of a permitted number of duplications to a first type of device and a permitted number of duplications to a second type of device;
• a receiving unit operable to receive from said second device, a duplication request for the content;
• a judging unit operable to judge whether or not said second device belongs to the group;
• and
• a control unit operable to transmit, to said second device if said judging unit judges that said second device belongs to the group, information indicating a permitted number of duplications that is equal to or smaller than the permitted number of duplications stored in said control unit, and refuse to perform the transmission to said second device if said judging unit judges that the said second device does not belong to the group, and wherein said second device includes:
• a requesting unit operable to transmit a duplication request for the content to said first device;
• and
• an obtaining unit operable to receive, from said first device, permission to store the content and the permitted number of duplications.

A content duplication management method for use by a networked apparatus, the networked apparatus storing a content and duplication restricting information that is attached to the content, belonging to a group, and being connected via a network to at least one device in the group and to at least one device out of the group, said method comprising:

• receiving, from a device, a duplication request for the content;
• judging whether the device is in the group or out of the group;
• and
• duplicating the content to the device if said judging judges that the device is in the group, and imposing restrictions on duplication of the content to the device if said judging judges that the device is out of the group,
• wherein the duplication restricting information indicates a permitted number of duplications which represents a number of times that the content is able to be duplicated to a device, and the permitted number of duplications is a sum of a permitted number of duplications to a first type of device and a permitted number of duplications to a second type of device.

A content duplication management program, tangibly embodied in a computer-readable recording medium, for use by a networked apparatus, the networked apparatus storing a content and duplication restricting information that is attached to the content, belonging to a group, and being connected via a network to at least one device in the group and to at least one device out of the group, said program, when run, causing the networked apparatus to perform operations comprising:

• receiving, from a device, a duplication request for the content;
• judging whether the device is in the group or out of the group;
• and
• duplicating the content to the device if said judging judges that the device is in the group, and imposing restrictions on duplication of the content to the device if said judging judges that the device is out of the group,
• wherein the duplication restricting information indicates a permitted number of duplications, which represents a number of times that the content is able to be duplicated to a device, and the permitted number of duplications is a sum of a permitted number of duplications to a first type of device and a permitted number of duplications to a second type of device.