The present invention relates to an information providing system, information processing apparatus and method, and information providing apparatus and method, adapted to suppress broadcast contents from being utilized unduly. A digital broadcast receiver receives network contents from a contents server. The network contents may make reference to broadcast contents sent on the air by one or more broadcast stations. The broadcast contents broadcast by the broadcast stations includes a broadcast wave BIT (Broadcaster Information Table) containing the address information of an authentication information server. The digital broadcast receiver accesses the authentication information server based on the address information, and requests for an authentication of whether a reference to broadcast contents based on the network contents is allowed. According to the authentication result, the digital broadcast receiver controls a reference to broadcast contents based on the network contents. The present invention is applicable to a television receiver connectable to the Internet.