CD meta-data

Is there a way, from a bash script or Perl program, to find data *about*
the CDROM or CDRW in the drive -- for example, my program needs to know:

   the type of disc (CDR or CDRW)
   the disc capacity (e.g., is it a 650 MB or a 700 MB disc)
   for existing discs, the copyright/publisher/other data
      which are recorded on the disc preamble

Any clues would be much appreciated.

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