The present invention relates to an information storage medium having a plurality of recording layers, to a record reproduction method, and to a record reproduction apparatus. According to the present invention, the information storage medium has a plurality of recording layers, wherein each of the recording layers has an inner circumferential area and a data area. At least one of the plurality of recording layers has, in the inner circumferential area thereof, a temporary defect management area for recording information on defects detected in the data area. The size of the temporary defect management area in the upper layers is larger than that of the temporary defect management area in the lower layers.