A contents provider stores contents data in a container in a format which can only be decoded with a key distributed from an EMD service center, and transmits the container to a service provider. The service provider adds pricing information and the like and distributes this to a user home network. The user home network pays charges to the EMD service center based on the pricing information, receives the key, and decodes the contents data. Information regarding the number of times which copying is permitted is contained in the secure container, and the number of times permitted is increased each time charges are paid, thereby enabling copying to other media and the like. It is impossible to make copies from a container simply copied, or in cases where in the number of permitted times of copies has been used up. Thus, contents data can be distributed in a format wherein copying of contents data can be controlled including the number of copies made.