To solve the problem that when distributing music or video contents via the internet, conventionally, sample data are first downloaded and viewed and if a user desires to purchase the contents, formal data are downloaded by performing access again but when purchasing the contents, it is necessary to perform downloading twice, it troubles the viewer thereby giving the viewer disincentive to purchase the contents.

Formal data are downloaded from the beginning and a user performs playback based on a profile designating a region where data can be played back. Thus, even if formal contents are distributed, playback control can be performed at a distribution side.