This post is about the Sailor Moon DVD. I did some research.It is something that I should have done before making that purchase. Some of you may have known when reading the post, it is a bootleg.I bought it without knowing at the time.I will still keep the post up but I do NOT encourage you to buy bootleg!It was a mistake that I made and it could get you in big problems if you decide to do the same.Yes, it was amazing to be able to watch the whole series and at a great price and all but it really isn't fair to those involved in the project to be ripped off.I will post some tips on how to spot a bootleg(I wish I had them at the time...)
"Check the packaging. While some bootleg copies are pretty hi-tech and "compressed" just like the studios do, others are ripped right on someone's computer and with just a little scrutiny, you'll notice things like pixelating on the cover art or even a DVD that actually says "DVD-R."
Check the audio. If there's no English dub, then it's probably a bootleg. There are exceptions to this, of course, such as a true import DVD from Japan, but in general, DVDs released for the North American audience are going to have an English dub.
Check the region. DVDs released for North America and Canada are Region 1. Import DVDs from Japan will be Region 2. To get past this encoding problem, many foreign bootleggers will encode as "Region Free" or "Region 0." But take note: the legitimate studios DO NOT put out "Region free" or "Region 0" DVDs. They just don't do it. If yours is region free or region 0, you're holding a fake. Period.
Check the number of episodes. If you haven't already noticed, most legitimate anime DVDs come with anywhere from three to five episodes per DVD on average.
Check the price. We all love a bargain. Especially when it comes to our anime and I'll be the first to admit that you'll sometimes luck into a really good (and legitimate) find.
Check the seller. A DVD bought direct from Amazon is probably okay, but a DVD bought from an individual seller through the Amazon marketplace isn't guaranteed. Similarly, if you're out buying at a convention or on eBay, you need to pay a little more attention than you would if you purchased something from a known and reputable dealer.
If you're buying at an online auction such as eBay, check the descriptions, most (but not all) legit sellers will say "this is not a bootleg." Even more important, however, is the description itself. If the seller tells you that it's "high quality audio/video," it's probably a rip."
Sources: http://anime.about.com/od/animecollectibles/ht/bootlegdvd.htm
http://www.otakunews.com/piratefaq.php
http://anime.about.com/od/animecollectibles/qt/dvdregions.htm
*If it is too good to be true...then it is!*
Buy at your own risk.
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