A decoding apparatus includes: a decoding section for decoding a first one of input encoded audio data sets that has been encoded by a certain encoding method; a first output section for outputting audio data decoded by the decoding section, in accordance with a first output control signal; a second output section for externally outputting the first one of the input encoded audio data sets, or a second one of the input encoded audio data sets, in accordance with a second output control signal; a copyright information detection section for detecting copyright information from the audio data decoded by the decoding section; a communications section for communicating with an external device which receives the encoded audio data set output from the second output section; and an output control section for outputting the first and second output control signals in accordance with the copyright information and a copyright information detection result received by the communications section from the external device.