A digital recording device and method are disclosed for determining whether to permit signal copying by using a normally received copy generation management system (CGMS) signal. The digital recording device includes a signal input unit to receive an analog signal, a CGMS signal detector to detect a CGMS signal from the analog signal, a noise signal determiner to determine whether the CGMS signal is a noise signal, and a controller to determine whether to permit copying with respect to the analog signal according to information included in the GCMS signal if the CGMS signal is not determined to be a noise signal. Accordingly, whether to permit signal copying accurately determined.