Importance

Loading Importance Indicators...

Abstract

The present invention provides an image forming apparatus capable of restricting copying using, as a master copy, a copy of a produced work such as a book. An MFP is provided with a printing permission/prohibition judging section and an output paper sheet selection section. The printing permission/prohibition judging section judges whether or not restriction information for restricting image formation is contained in either (i) an information tag provided in a document, or (ii) image data acquired by an image scanning section. The output paper sheet selection section selects a regulatory-information-containing recording paper sheet (i.e., a recording paper sheet on which a copy restriction code/pattern has been formed in advance, or a recording paper sheet having a wireless tag in which regulatory information has been stored in advance) as a recording paper sheet to be subjected to the image formation, which regulatory-information-containing recording paper sheet contains the regulatory information for prohibiting or restricting an image forming process based on the recording paper sheet on which an image has been formed.

Loading the Abstract Image...

First Claim