The present invention relates to an apparatus and a method for reproducing a recording medium that require input of a code number only once when the code number is required to be inputted to both a directory and a PlayList for reproduction. A plurality of directories such as DVR, DVR1, DVRn and the like are formed on a disk. One directory DVR has a flag DVR_protect_flag set therein for controlling reproduction of information belonging in the directory. Also, .rpls in PLAYLIST, which is one piece of information in the directory DVR, has a playback_control_flag set therein for controlling reproduction thereof. In a case where the DVR_protect_flag is 1, the reproduction is allowed only when a correct code number is inputted. In a case where the DVR_protect_flag and the playback_control_flag are both 1, input of the code number for the playback_control_flag is omitted when the correct code number has already been inputted for the DVR_protect_flag.