A method and apparatus for reproducing metadata provides a data structure
in which metadata whose preferential reproduction is desired can be
selected and reproduced. The metadata relevant to a moving image includes
a stream data structure including one or more access units each being a
data unit which can be independently processed, and each of the access
units includes first data to specify an effective period defined with
respect to a time axis of the moving image, object area data describing a
spatio-temporal region in the moving image, second data including one of
or both of data to specify a display method relevant to the
spatio-temporal region and data to specify a processing to be performed
when the spatio-temporal region is specified, and third data to specify,
in a case where one or more access units exist on a same screen in the
moving image at a time of reproduction of the metadata, reproduction
priority of each of the access units.