US Patent 7684674 Optical reproducing apparatus having protection flags and code number

An apparatus and a method for reproducing a recording medium which requires input of a code number only once when the code number is required to be input to both a directory and a PlayList for reproduction. A plurality of directories, such as DVR, DVR1, DVRn and the like, are formed on a disk. One directory DVR has a flag DVR_protect_flag (first control information) set therein for controlling reproduction of information belonging in the directory. Also, a file associated with the PlayList, which is one piece of information in the directory DVR, has a playback_control_flag (second control information) set therein for controlling reproduction thereof. In a case where the DVR_protect_flag is 1, reproduction is allowed only when a correct code number is input. In a case where the DVR_protect_flag and the playback_control_flag are both 1, input of the code number for the playback_control_flag is omitted when the correct code number has already been input for the DVR_protect_flag.