To properly protect copyright of the contents of a book in a bookbinding system utilizing a network.
The bookbinding system is equipped with a server 2 holding book data, a terminal 5 for requesting the server 2 to transmit the data, an image forming apparatus 6 forming an image on paper on the basis of the data on the contents of the book transmitted from the server 2 and a bookbinding apparatus 7 binding the paper having the image formed into the book. The system is provided with connection detecting means 67, 10 and 71 for detecting connection of the image forming apparatus 6 with the bookbinding apparatus 7, and a bookbinding processing is allowed in the case when the connection is confirmed. According to this constitution, illegal copying in the case when the bookbinding apparatus is not connected with the image forming apparatus is prevented so as to protect the copyright.
MOTOHASHI MITSUO
KAMEI MASAHIKO
SHIN YUICHI
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