Abstract: An optical disc on which a number of spiral trains of regular pits and at least one train of irregular pits are formed. The regular pits of each of the trains is arranged symmetrically with respect to the center of a track. Each of the irregular pits has a predetermined shape different from a shape of each of the regular pits. An arrangement of the train of the irregular pits being differs from an arrangement of each of the trains of the regular pits. A tracking error signal being obtained from the train of the irregular pits. An irregular pit can not be copied even when a normal optical disc containing such an irregular pit is copied by performing a conventional copying method. Thus, an illegal copy disc can be discriminated from a normal optical disc by checking whether or not an irregular pit is included in an optical disc to provide good copy protection by easily detecting an illegal copy disc.

Abstract: An optical disc has a sequence of pits which extends along a track. The pit sequence represents a recorded signal divided into data blocks. The pit sequence includes a normal pit train and an unusual pit train. The normal pit train is symmetrical with respect to a center of the track. The unusual pit train is different from the normal pit train in at least one of shape and pit arrangement. The unusual pit train is at a position having a predetermined relation with the data blocks.

Abstract: A copy protected optical disc is recorded with digital data and a key information forming track turns of a predetermined pitch, in which the digital data are converted to a string of signal waveforms in a predetermined encoding scheme defined by the key information, the key information is recorded in a form of single frequency or FM carrier signal modulating the string of signal waveforms carrying the digital data in such a pit configuration that a width of the series of pits in a radial direction of the optical disc is deviated symmetrically with respect to a center of each track turn having a maximum width smaller than the predetermined pitch.