Abstract: The present invention aims to provide an encrypted contents playback apparatus and an encrypted contents playback method that are suitable for playing back contents from a medium storing therein both contents to which conventional copy protection is applied and contents to which DRM is applied, as well as to provide a recording medium in which data used by such playback apparatus or method is recorded. The medium of the present invention stores therein information that indicates whether the contents have conventional copy protection applied thereto or DRM applied thereto. The terminal device determines which key should be used for decrypting the contents based on the information.