Even if copy control information in contents is Never Copy (CCI=11) and the like, a recording apparatus which is not in conformity with a copy protection system (CPS) changes the copy control information to Copy Free (CCI=00) and records the contents. A recording and reproducing apparatus which is in conformity with the CPS embeds, in a transmission signal thereof, path information indicating a path through which the contents pass, except for the contents which are originally set to Copy Free (CCI=00). Thereby, when the path information is detected though the copy control information is Copy Free (CCI=00), it is determined that the path information passed through an illegal apparatus, and hence recording can be inhibited.