Music-content using apparatus capable of managing copying of music content, and program therefor

Abstract

When new music content is generated on the basis of replication of original music content, additional information including information indicating that the generated new music content is based on replication and replication source information identifying a replicated-from source of the replicated content is generated and added to the new music content based on the replication. When the new (i.e., replicated) music content is to be used, a search is made for original music content on the basis of information identifying a replicated-from source and use of the new (replicated) music content is permitted only when the c original music content has been successfully found. Such arrangements reliably allow the replicated content to be used by a given person only when the person possesses the original music content.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A music-content using apparatus comprising: 
 an acquisition section that acquires original music content;    a replicated content generation section that generates new music content on the basis of replication of the original music content acquired via said acquisition section; and    an additional information generation section that, when said replicated content generation section generates the new music content, generates additional information including information indicating that the generated new music content is based on replication and replication source information identifying a replicated-from source of the replicated content,    wherein the additional information generated by said additional information generation section is added to the new music content generated by said replicated content generation section.    
     
     
         2 . A music-content using apparatus as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said replicated content generation section replicates the original music content and generates, as the new music content, the replicated music content that comprises a replication of at least some of substance data of the original music content.  
     
     
         3 . A music-content using apparatus as claimed in  claim 2  wherein the new music content comprises a replication of all of the substance data of the original music content.  
     
     
         4 . A music-content using apparatus as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said replicated content generation section replicates the original music content and performs editing to change at least some of substance data of the replicated music content, to thereby generate, as the new music content, the replicated music content that includes at least the substance data changed by the editing.  
     
     
         5 . A music-content using apparatus as claimed in  claim 4  wherein the new music content includes, as its substance data, only the substance data changed by the editing.  
     
     
         6 . A music-content using apparatus as claimed in  claim 4  wherein the new music content does not include the substance data not changed by the editing, and a storage location of the new music content is indicated by the replication source information included in the additional information added to the new music content.  
     
     
         7 . A music-content using apparatus as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the new music content generated by said replicated content generation section includes a management data region and substance data region, and the additional information generated by said additional information generation section is stored in the management data region.  
     
     
         8 . A music-content using apparatus as claimed in  claim 1  which further comprises: 
 a search section that, when the new music content is to be used, searches for the acquired original music content on the basis of the replication source information included in the additional information; and  
 a use section that permits use of the new music content only when the original music content has been successfully found by said search section.  
 
     
     
         9 . A music-content using apparatus as claimed in  claim 1  which further comprises: 
 a storage medium that stores music content; and  
 an encryption section that encrypts, with medium information specific to said storage medium, music content to be stored in said storage medium and then storing the encrypted music content in said storage medium.  
 
     
     
         10 . A music-content using apparatus comprising: 
 an acquisition section that acquires music content including additional information added thereto, the additional information including information indicating that the music content is based on replication and replication source information identifying a replicated-from source of the music content;    a search section that searches for original music content on the basis of the source information included in the additional information added to the music content acquired via said acquisition section; and    a use section that permits use of the acquired music content only when the original music content has been successfully found by said search section.    
     
     
         11 . A music-content using apparatus as claimed in  claim 10  wherein the music content acquired via said acquisition section includes a management data region and substance data region, and the additional information is stored in the management data region.  
     
     
         12 . A music-content using apparatus as claimed in  claim 11  wherein, in the management data region, there are included substance data of the acquired music content that comprise a replication of at least some of substance data of the original music content.  
     
     
         13 . A music-content using apparatus as claimed in  claim 11  wherein, in the management data region, there are included substance data of the acquired music content obtained by changing at least some of substance data of the original music content.  
     
     
         14 . A music-content using apparatus as claimed in  claim 13  wherein, when use of the acquired music content is being permitted and if the at least some of substance data of the original music content are not included in the substance data region of the acquired music content, said use section acquires the at least some of substance data from the original music content found by said search section.  
     
     
         15 . A music-content using apparatus as claimed in  claim 10  which further comprises: 
 a storage medium that stores music content; and  
 an encryption section that encrypts, with medium information specific to said storage medium, music content to be stored in said storage medium and then storing the encrypted music content in said storage medium.  
 
     
     
         16 . A program containing a group of instructions for causing a computer to perform a music-content using method, said music-content using method comprising: 
 an acquisition step of acquiring original music content;    a replicated content generation step of generating new music content on the basis of replication of the original music content acquired via said acquisition step; and    an additional information generation step of, when said replicated content generation step generates the new music content, generating additional information including information indicating that the generated new music content is based on replication and replication source information identifying a replicated-from source of the replicated content,    wherein the additional information generated by said additional information generation step is added to the new music content generated by said replicated content generation step.    
     
     
         17 . A program as claimed in  claim 16  which further comprises: 
 a search step of, when the new music content is to be used, searching for the original music content on the basis of the replication source information included in the additional information; and  
 a step of permitting use of the new music content only when the original music content has been successfully found by said search step.  
 
     
     
         18 . A program containing a group of instructions for causing a computer to perform a music-content using method, said music-content using method comprising: 
 an acquisition step of acquiring music content including additional information added thereto, the additional information including information indicating that the music content is based on replication and replication source information identifying a replicated-from source of the music content;    a search step of searching for original music content of the acquired music content on the basis of the replication source information included in the additional information added to the music content acquired via said acquisition step; and    a step of permitting use of the acquired music content only when the original music content has been successfully found by said search step.