To provide a copyright management system converting apparatus capable of easily viewing contents of which copyrights are protected by different copyright management systems connected to networks constituted of different communication protocols, respectively.

The copyright management system converting apparatus comprises: a first interface means connected to a first network; a second interface means connected to a second network; a first/second authentication means which exchanges an authentication key with equipment connected to each of the networks by performing authentication processing for copyright protection; and a transmission means which converts a copyright management level of a stream received via the second interface means into an equal copyright management level at a receiving side of the stream only when authentication processing is successful in the first authentication means and the second authentication means, and transmits the stream with the converted copyright management level added thereto via the first interface means.

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