So you’re interested in buying your favorite anime series on DVD. But you run into an unexpected problem–there are a bunch of bootleg anime DVDs all over eBay. But how do you tell the difference between a bootleg and an official copy? Sometimes it can be hard, but here’s some advice:

Typically bootleg DVDs contain fewer discs than their official counterparts. Take for example a common boxed set like Cowboy Bebop. The official complete set contains six discs, while most (if not all) of its bootlegged counterparts contain only three discs. This is very common in anime bootlegs. The bootleg manufacturers will compress the video down to a smaller size so they can fit more episodes on a disc. This is not only illegal, but will also result in poor image quality and other video issues. As a general rules of thumb, no more than six episodes are typically put on an officially liscensed disc. Do the math and detetmine whether or not there are too many episodes packed on each disc.

Sometimes bootleg DVDs will contain the phrase “ENG DUB” in the title or subtitle of the listing. This can be a clue that the DVDs are bootlegs, but it’s not always the case. Sometimes the anime might be a legal (non-bootlegged) copy from out of the country. But more often than not, “ENG DUB” means that the DVD is a bootleg.

Another potential way to tell whether or not DVDs are bootlegs is to look at the location of the item. If they are being shipped from out of the country (especially if they’re being shipped from Hong Kong or Taiwan) they have a better chance of being bootlegs. Typically you won’t get official products from out of the country.

Also take a look at the price of the DVD you’re buying. Check the price against the price at your local movie store or an online anime store. If you see a DVD for $5.99 and the retail price is $29.99, chances are it’s a bootleg.

One other good way to tell if a DVD is a bootleg is by looking at the sellers pictures. If the seller had a picture of the DVD they’re selling, take a good look. Look for odd marks or initials on them. A lot of times, the initials or marks are a very good clue that you’re looking at a bootleg. If you see the letters FX on a DVD somewhere, it is a bootleg. FX is one of the most well-known anime bootleg companies in existance. Also look for a mark of Animation Video, Anime Cartoon/Manga International, Anime Studio, or any other unknown companies. Do your research and find out if the company whose name is on the box is actually a liscenced anime manufacturer.

If you do end up buying an anime DVD and you’re not sure if it’s a bootleg, check the things above. See how many discs your copy has and how many discs a legitimate copy has. If the number of discs match up, that’s probably good. Look for an FX symbol or one of the other company names mentioned above on the box. If you see one of those names, it’s a bootleg. Also look at the packaging the discs come in. If you can see gel blobs or if the packaging comes apart very easily, you’re dealing with a bootleg. If you should happen to get a bootleg, report it to eBay. Also make sure you contact the seller and demand a refund.

If you follow all of the steps above, you can rest assured that you’re probably getting official anime and not bootleg releases.