How to Tell if Your Dvd is Fake/Bootleg or Is This Dvd Real?

[Voiceroy]

I have been searching on eBay to find an authentic copy of the Snow White Platinum Edition on DVD.

I take it you just couldn't wait until 2009 for the *new* 2-disc Platinum Edition to be released?

I don't recommend buying pre-owned DVDs online at all. Buying online doesn't allow you to inspect quality beforehand. The only way buying online is safe is if you completely trust the seller's honesty and integrity, and they offer--in writing--a promise to refund/exchange if the disc(s) are in any way defective (this includes bootlegs). There are online retailers/auction sites that sell pre-owned DVDs, but I would never buy used off sites like eBay unless the seller had a history of 100% positive feedback, and same goes for amazon.com dealers. But I see you found that to be not true as well. Glad you at least got a refund.

I got my copy of Snow White pre-owned at CD Warehouse--in fantastic condition and with all the original materials for about $12. I'd suggest you visit there, but I don't think they have any stores up in Canada.

[Jules]

I just bought and received a brand new unopened FA from eBay. It appears to be legit, but there's something akward with the cardboard box. The holographic stuff which speels out the title and the stylized treble clef logo appears to be made out of some sort of leaf (like gold leaf) and some of the excess "leaf" has stuck, and I can't remove it.

Here, give it a look. Can you see the hole inside the last "A" of Fantasia clogged up? Look at the star and the crescent moon. They too look strange, along with Mickey's nose and one of his ears. The same thing affects most of the letters of "Anthology", though some acyually have less "leaf" than they should, making them look like metal that's been corroded.



The spine too has some defects. The horizontal lines next to the numbers 1, 2 and 3 have some material missing. It's a bit difficult to see in the picture, but look carefully and you will see it. Some of the numbers, on the other hand, are almost totally covered up.



Is this normal?

[BrandonH]

It looks like it's a legitimate version.

My guess is that it's a combination of shelf wear and packaging that wasn't designed for six years of being unopened that's causing the problems.

[slave2moonlight]

I do have one of these from when it first came out. This one looks pretty legit to me. I agree with BrandonH's statements.

[musicradio77]

I have the 2 VHS tapes of "Fantasia" and "Fantasia 2000", but I don't have the Anthology box for that, I guess it was all out of print, but I have two DVD's copied from torrent, but it looks great.

I've never seen one, but I don't have the whole box.

[mybluerabbit]

Hello,

I have been trying to get a copy of the Limited Issue 1999 Jungle book DVD. I am on my third one now, and yet again, I think I got another bootleg.

Could someone with a real copy of this DVD please help me out by telling my what is the number that is printed around the inner hole on the underside of the DVD?

Also when you put it in the computer, how big is the DVD?

The one I have now is only 4.3GB, which means that it isn't even a double layer DVD - and the guy who sold it to me assured me that he purchased this himself back in 1999 from Walmart too!

[TheValentineBros]

So you got a DVD bootleg huh? It's not as bad as a VHS bootleg.

[candydog]

Could you possibly post a picture of the DVD you bought? A picture of the disc, the front and back of the case and even maybe the spine can tell a lot about how genuine it is. It's happened many times on this forum where photos from ebay and other sites have been identified as fakes. If you just want the number then you could be waiting around a while for someone with the DVD to reply, but if you give us some pictures and information on the DVD such as any problems you encountered whilst viewing, it will give those of us who don't have the DVD something to work on.

[mybluerabbit]

Thank you for your advice candydog. I will get some pictures up as soon as I can

[Ugly Pig]

Just out of curiosity, why do you suspect the disc is a bootleg? If it's just the fact that it's single layer, then that doesn't necessarily mean anything. Many films were released on single layer discs back then.

[buffalobill]

I can tell you how you can be 100% sure if it is a phony. Same way I did with mine. After Hurricane Charley destroyed my home & wrecked most of my dvd collection I gathered all of the damaged Disney dvds & sent them back to be replaced under the Disney dvd replacement program for $3 apiece (I believe). I got all but 3 of my dvds replaced including oop ones like Snow White PE. 3 which I bought on ebay (& played perfectly) from a guy with 99.9999% positive feedback were fakes. I know because Disney kept them & asked me if I could provide the name of the ebayer for prosecution. It had been a couple years & I didn't remember his ebay username but I found out for sure that those 3 dvds were phonies. Send 'em to Disney & if they come back they're real.

[blueyedlady87]

Hello. This is my first post. My dad bought me the Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs Platinum Edition DVD for Xmas from Amazon. Right away, I suspected it was a fake and so he contacted the seller with the reasons and the seller said no one had ever had that problem before. I want to be sure it is indeed a bootleg if we are going to pursue the matter and was hoping someone had the DVD and could compare for me. It would be very much appreciated.

Is this normal?
1. The DVD case itself is a different brand and type of case than all my other Platinum releases, it is 2 inches thick, no snap on the side, and no swinging case in the middle that holds Disc 1 of 2.
2. All my other Platinum DVDs have a visible bar code on the inside ring of th disk, this has none but does have a smudge in the plastic (possibly from a laser printer?)
3. The quality of the cover insert and inside insert are overly vivid and grainy in some spots, the paper is not the same as the other Platinum releases.
4. The printing on the actual discs is not as clear as the other Platinum editions.
5. The title on the spine is blurry and is stretched to cover the entire 2 inches of case width (see #1).

As to quality of video, it was not shrink wrapped and I haven't watched it because I want to return it. Am I being paranoid? I do believe this was the first Platinum edition release so perhaps Disney changed their packaging?

After the seller's initial reply stating that my claims were unfounded and that no one else had ever complained; he replied saying that if we sent it back he would refund us and sell it to someone else. So I want to report him if it is indeed a bootleg. Amazon looks down on such practices and I don't want the next unsuspecting customer to unknowlingly get a bootleg. Thank you so much for any help you can give in this matter!

[JiminyCrick91]

Its best and easiest for all to post detailed pictures of the case and discs but from your description everything seems all well and good.

[numba1lostboy]

I agree with Jiminy.

But, honestly, even if it is a bootleg, you have the film. It looks real enough, and it's not available anywhere else. If you return it, you won't have it again until the next PE. I would just keep it. If the DVD works, why fuss?

But that's coming from someone who collects movies with the sole intent of watching them, not letting them collect value.

[karlsen]

I agree with Jiminy.

But, honestly, even if it is a bootleg, you have the film. It looks real enough, and it's not available anywhere else. If you return it, you won't have it again until the next PE. I would just keep it. If the DVD works, why fuss?

But that's coming from someone who collects movies with the sole intent of watching them, not letting them collect value.

Some people don't like the idea of sponsoring bootleggers. Its illegal to sell, and should be taken seriously.

[Escapay]

I do believe this was the first Platinum edition release so perhaps Disney changed their packaging?

Yes. Snow White is the only Platinum to be released in the double-alpha case (which Disney used for all their two-disc releases from 1999 to early 2002), which is why it's different from the others. Also, side snaps didn't start on Platinums until Bambi, so Beauty and the Beast, The Lion King, and Aladdin won't have them either. Regarding the insert, it was a thicker paper than the other Platinums as well, and the discs should have a rougher printing than later ones. Most Disney DVDs from 1999-2001 has a "rough" printing, it wasn't until 2001/2002 that they began using the "glossy" style on disc art (though sets could alternate, as I've got a Pirates: COTBP and an Old Yeller that have a "rough" disc one and a "glossy" disc two). In 2005/2006 that the transparent disc art started showing up.
Scaps

[blueyedlady87]

A huge thank you for all the replies!!! I am just going to go ahead and pop in the DVD since you all are pretty convinced it is legit. As long as the graphics are good then I'm going to have to eat my words and apologize to the seller.

However, to the commentor who said it wouldn't be a big deal if it was fake... I strongly disagree. I didn't want it for collector's value, just my own use. But to pay $40 for a bootleg that it took someone $2 to make is unfair and highly illegal. If the movie had cost $5 then I wouldn't expect it to be brand new and in great quality. However, for $40 I expect to get what is advertised.

[numba1lostboy]

You all make valid points. I'm embarassed to say I never considered the illegality of it.

Glad we all helped you make your decision, though!

[littlefuzzy]

Hello. This is my first post. My dad bought me the Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs Platinum Edition DVD for Xmas from Amazon. Right away, I suspected it was a fake and so he contacted the seller with the reasons and the seller said no one had ever had that problem before. I want to be sure it is indeed a bootleg if we are going to pursue the matter and was hoping someone had the DVD and could compare for me. It would be very much appreciated.
I am looking at my Snow White DVD right now...

Is this normal?
1. The DVD case itself is a different brand and type of case than all my other Platinum releases, it is 2 inches thick, no snap on the side, and no swinging case in the middle that holds Disc 1 of 2.
The case should be the large Alpha style case that has 2 separate compartments, and has three different parts - the front snaps to the middle, and the middle snaps to the rear part. Of course, the case would be the easiest part for a bootlegger to get right, and it's possible there are slightly different versions that are legitimate.

2. All my other Platinum DVDs have a visible bar code on the inside ring of th disk, this has none but does have a smudge in the plastic (possibly from a laser printer?)
The disc should be gold, and has quite a few numbers and bar-codes.

3. The quality of the cover insert and inside insert are overly vivid and grainy in some spots, the paper is not the same as the other Platinum releases.
The cover and insert are clear, not grainy. It should be fairly thick paper. There is also some metallic printing: "Platinum Edition" at the top, and "All-New Immersive 2-Disc DVD Experience" at the bottom. The oval that contains the title has a thin band of rainbow-metallic ink. The insert is stapled, and also has fold-out pages.

4. The printing on the actual discs is not as clear as the other Platinum editions.
The printing should be clear, and you might even be able to feel the large letters.

5. The title on the spine is blurry and is stretched to cover the entire 2 inches of case width (see #1).
[/b]The title isn't blurry or stretched, but it does have a bit of blue shadow at the edges of the white letters.[/b]

If your copy doesn't match any of these, I am afraid you DID get a bootleg.

[blueyedlady87]

1. The DVD case itself is a different brand and type of case than all my other Platinum releases, it is 2 inches thick, no snap on the side, and no swinging case in the middle that holds Disc 1 of 2.
The case should be the large Alpha style case that has 2 separate compartments, and has three different parts - the front snaps to the middle, and the middle snaps to the rear part. Of course, the case would be the easiest part for a bootlegger to get right, and it's possible there are slightly different versions that are legitimate.

If your copy doesn't match any of these, I am afraid you DID get a bootleg.

Thank you for your detailed answers!!! As I am not familiar with the Alpha style case... is it supposed to be incredibly wide? As in, twice the width of a regular DVD? It's almost as wide as a VHS.

I can't post a picture because my camera is giving me an error message. However, I watched it and if it is fake it is a really good fake. The only thing that was 'off' was that the opening with the Walt Disney logo and castle seemed off centered. I really do appreciate your time