Counterfeit and bootleg products is probably the largest problems plaguing the anime and manga industry. Is it possible to tell what is legitimate and what isn’t?

DVD copying technology, along with high quality laser printers have become increasingly more affordable over the past years. It’s very easy for someone to take the original disc and clone it onto a blank disc and then print off authentic looking covers. But how does one tell that they’ve purchased a knock-off? Here are few tips to avoid buying fake copies.

1. Purchase only from reputable or authorized retailers – they buy directly from the manufacturer and guarantee their product.
2. Inspect the packaging. Look for blurry or pixelated text, especially in the fine print and logos of the licensee and distributor. Some bootleg DVDs will also have poor spelling and grammar.
3. Look at the price. If it’s too good to be true, it usually is.
4. Check the disc. Does the label peel off? Does the image on the disc look different than what’s on the packaging?

Before purchasing, do some research into the series. Has it been licensed in North America? Does the packaging differ than what’s at other retailers? Another clue is that the dubbing should be in Japanese and English (additionally French or Spanish). If the dub or subtitles also includes Taiwanese, Cantonese or Mandarin, it’s a good warning that the media may not be legitimate.

The case on the right is legitimate. The case on the left isn't.

Unlike DVDs, CDs that feature popular show themes, soundtracks and compilations aren’t released that often outside of Japan. Web sites, like Amazon for instance, import these CDs, although it’s not without a downside: the discs cost more than their average North American counterpart due to the high price of importing and transporting the media halfway across the world. Unfortunately, this is where the bootleggers step in. A large number of independent anime stores throughout North America sell illegitimate copies of anime soundtracks and J-Pop and J-Rock discs as they are cheap and easy to obtain. However, not all retailers sell knock offs.

1. Look at the packaging. Most fake CDs will be released by the following groups:
   • Alion
   • Archer
   • Ever Anime
   • K-O Trading Company
   • Miya Records
   • Son May
   • Yuanding

   This is not a complete list of what’s out there. These groups change their names, logos and catalogue numbers frequently which can confuse consumers.

   

   The bottom of the CDs show entirely different text. Click to see a larger image.

2. Inspect the packaging. Look for blurry or pixelated text, especially in the fine print and logos of the licensee and distributor – this is where the fake distributor logo is located. Some bootleg discs will also have poor spelling and grammar.
3. Look at the price. Most imported CDs should not be $6.99 or lower. A real import can cost upwards of $30 USD.
4. Check the disc. Does the label peel off? Does the image on the disc look different than what’s on the packaging?

But what about action figures and plushes? What’s the best way to determine if it’s an officially licensed figure?

1. Inspect the packaging. Look for blurry or pixelated text, especially in the fine print and logos of the licensee and distributor. Packaging should not have poor spelling and grammar. The image of the character should match what’s inside.
2. Look at the figure to make sure the character looks accurate. Facial features should not be misshapen, discoloured, or missing. Plush toys should not exhibit stains where glue has been applied and the stitching should be uniform.

It should be noted that some toys, especially UFO catchers (similar to crane games) may be of lower quality than those off the store shelves.

Buying online, especially from sites like eBay or Craigslist, makes it easy to obtain counterfeit items. Before purchasing something, look at the picture — does it look accurate? Be aware of obvious spelling and grammatical errors on the packaging. If the pictures are blurry or there are doubts, ask the seller to provide additional photographs. If it’s a CD or DVD, ask for a picture of the back where the legal information is or the spine for the disc’s catalogue number. Perform a Google search with the catalogue number to see if there are results on the legitimacy of the media. If it’s a toy or plush, ask for pictures of the tag and close-ups of the toy for reference.

A partial list of legitimate manufacturers and distributors:

• ADV Films
• Bandai
• Boston America Corporation
• Broccoli
• FUNimation
• Geneon
• Great Eastern
• Mattel
• Pioneer
• Pony Canyon
• Right Stuf/Nozomi Entertainment
• TokyoPop
• Ripple Junction
• Sony/SME Visual Works/Aniplex
• Square-Enix
• Toynami
• Victor
• Viz Media
• Yen Press

It’s important to buy officially licensed merchandise as it supports the industry and shows there’s a demand for the product. The bigger the demand, the better chance more series will be licensed outside of Japan. Buying knock offs doesn’t help anyone: it leaves the consumer with an inferior product, the creator/artist does not get a share for their work, and it is illegal — customs, law enforcement or other federal agencies can confiscate items they believe to be counterfeit. Worse still, some items including watches and battery operated devices could be particularly lethal due to substandard parts which could leak out or start fires. So don’t get burned; become an informed fan. Remember to always look over the product before purchase and don’t be afraid to ask questions if you’re still unsure.