(Close Window) Topic: How do you identify fake copies and real ones?
Message: Posted by: FireAmbitious (Aug 14, 2004 6:46am)
I have a problem... I don't know how to identify fake copies of DVDs and things from the real ones. I found a really cheap shop near my area. There are a lot of magic DVDs and props. But all the DVDs are really cheap and they look just like the real ones (not even sure if they're fake). They are all buy two get one free. Some really good DVDs in magic but they cant be sold all the same price! Imagine Michael Ammer's Easy to Master Card Magic vol 1 - 3 sold for just around $64 USD!!!

I really cant tell if they are fake or not and they cant be sold that cheap !!!

Please help
Message: Posted by: Daegs (Aug 14, 2004 7:17am)
Ask the owner if they are fake, and if he replies in the negative, ask him why he can sell them so cheaply.


Only way to go about it really....
Message: Posted by: jimtron (Aug 14, 2004 12:32pm)
If you look closely at the sleeve artwork and the art on the disc, you can often notice a significant quality difference. Pirated DVDs often use color laser copies for the sleeve artwork. I doubt that DVD bootleggers use real 4 color printing. The DVD publisher might have some tips on identifying authentic copies.

The price you mentioned sounds low, but retailers do sometimes offer severe discounts in certain situations.

Asking the owner may offer a clue, but I doubt he will freely admit to selling illegal merchandise (if, in fact he is), and it's not too hard to come up with a reason for marking down prices.
Message: Posted by: Tom Cutts (Aug 14, 2004 1:38pm)
In the case of a DVD you can check to see if it was pressed or burned. Publishers press their DVDs because the cost for the volume they are doing is less than burning them and the quality is higher.

Pirates and bootleggers burn their DVDs (make copies on DVD recorders) which results, in the best case, in a product with a shorter life expectancy. Yes, burned DVDs are far more susceptible to deteriorization and damage. Don't leave a ripped DVD or CD in your car on a hot summer day.

So, the way to check is to look at the disc on the play side. Pressed DVDs will have no, or a very slight, rainbow refection on them when light reflects off the "grooves". Ripped DVDs will have a very pronounced rainbow.

Cheers,

Tom
Message: Posted by: FireAmbitious (Aug 14, 2004 2:19pm)
Thanks a lot for the tips !!!
Message: Posted by: trickster2000 (Aug 14, 2004 6:55pm)
Mabee its used?? But then again, by looking at your location, I can almost guarantee that its not original, as Ive picked up video's in HK and it looked real except for the fact that it came in the plastic cases as opposed to the cardboard slipcase it usually came in.
Message: Posted by: samuelchong (Aug 14, 2004 8:55pm)
They are not used but they are indeed pirated copies. I got cheated once in Bangkok, Thailand by a magician in a shopping complex.

FireAmbitious,

You can always place your orders with these dealers:
www.mymagic.com
www.a1magicalmedia.com
www.hocus-pocus.com

They always serve you well (eventhough you are a foreigner), trustworhty and of course, they always ship the products very fast (probably you'll receive it in 7-10 days). I heard www.magicproshop.com 's service is quite good also.
Message: Posted by: sharpace (Aug 15, 2004 5:42am)
Last month I 've stayed in Hong Kong. I've been to that magic shop located at 188 shopping center. At first there are some tricks which I'm interested and want to buy from them. But I found their wall hanging all pirated DVDs (more than 200 titiles,mostly from L&L ) that really surprised me. (I cannot understand why they can sell those pirated DVDs s so openly!!)

After I seen this I give up to buy anythings from them!!!!!!!!!!!

My firends in Hong Kong told me that the shop is owned by a famous Hong Kong magician. WHAT a SHAME!!!@@@
Message: Posted by: SGMagician (Aug 15, 2004 10:22am)
I am not surprised that many are selling fake L&L DVDS so openly. Even Singapore magic shops does that! I know that one of our magic shops here sell fake magic booklets! you know? those booklets by Docc Hilford, Andrew Mayne, etc etc. Anything that can be photocopied and looks good! Imagine how much they would earn. One booklet cost only a few cents to photocopy and they are selling the US price for it! The profit margin is huge. No wonder they are selling it and yet people are buying from them unknowingly....

I guess the worse thing is they rent out these magic DVDs! Just as bad or even worse than selling pirated DVDs! One DVD can be rented out at only $15!!! Hope someone can put a stop to these piracy
Message: Posted by: Thomas Walter (Aug 15, 2004 6:07pm)
If you look around in Hong Kong, Thailand etc. you will soon find that it is not only magic (dvd:s, video tapes, books) that are pirated. You will find illegal copies of well known clothes brand (Gucci, Kelvin Klein, Hugo Boss etc) computer software, music, watches, perfumes, alcohol.... I can go on forever. There is no end to it.
This is big business down there, are you surprised that the authorities don't stop this illegal business? I am not! This means a lot of money to these countries. And the percentage of illegal merchandise related to magic is so low compared to what else sold on this market! It is not even a spoonful in the Ocean!
It is sad but the miserable reality!
Message: Posted by: Yuji (Aug 16, 2004 10:19am)
I also cheated by that magic shop located at 188 shopping center in Hong Kong. Beside the faked DVDs they also sell magic props. (Most of them are rip-off) I have bought a fire product (just look like omega fire,but a bit thicker)from them. The salesman said it is very good in quality.

After I went back to my hotel room I have tried it at the bathroom IT's TERRIBLE!!! It nearly burnt my hands. I am so lucky I've tried it at the bathroom. If I use it at my room I think it will burn the carpet and cause a big fire. I am in a hurry back to Japan and get no time to that magic complain about it and ask for a refund. This story teach me a lots and cann't trust the Magic shop in Hong Kong anymore especially the one sell fake DVDs.
Message: Posted by: Badger (Aug 16, 2004 11:16am)
Here in Ireland they sell fake copy’s of L&L DVDs as well, I bought a few I was told they where used, the work perfect, also they had BK line of DVDs as well as A-1. you can tell by looking at the back if it is not silver it is most likely a copy. Buying DVD copy’s hurts our economy. these people who make copy’s are steeling from our favourite magic producers. L&L A-1 etc… these companies are nice enough to produce good quality items for us magicians not for some thief to copy and by the way if you buy copy’s it is the same as steeling.
Message: Posted by: Aron Devin (Aug 16, 2004 11:19am)
One of the best ways to tell a burned DVD is by looking at the underside on the surface where the laser reads. If you hold the disc in just the right angle of light you can see little tiny bar codes and usually a huge series of numbers written around the outside of the hole in the disc. Sometimes the numbers are 15 to 20 digits long! Blank discs that are burned onto may have a series of numbers but not anywhere near the amount a legitimate disc has.
Message: Posted by: FireAmbitious (Aug 16, 2004 1:22pm)
Thx a lot guys. Btw I found out there's another magic shop that sell the real DVDs ones!!! just downstairs under the fake copies place. They hardly have any though... just about 10? and quite a lot of props and stuff !!! I guess I will never guy anythig from the fake DVDs shop again!!! although the real ones are expensive, I will still buy them ! If you buy the fake ones they will make more and more. SO STOP BUYING FAKE DVDs !!!
Message: Posted by: Review King (Aug 16, 2004 11:14pm)
This stinks and as a community we should not support the copying of product.
Message: Posted by: Bradley Morgan (Aug 17, 2004 12:51am)
I totaly agree with you on that MagicChris.

Best,
Bradley
Message: Posted by: FireAmbitious (Aug 17, 2004 12:18pm)
U know what?... I wanna sue them for selling fake DVDs...
Message: Posted by: Hayze (Sep 13, 2004 4:23am)
Good idea Fire, now you just have to buy the copyright to the videos so you'll be in a position to do so.
Message: Posted by: flourish dude (Sep 13, 2004 6:50am)
Quote:

On 2004-08-16 11:19, Aron Devin wrote:
One of the best ways to tell a burned DVD is by looking at the underside on the surface where the laser reads. If you hold the disc in just the right angle of light you can see little tiny bar codes and usually a huge series of numbers written around the outside of the hole in the disc. Sometimes the numbers are 15 to 20 digits long! Blank discs that are burned onto may have a series of numbers but not anywhere near the amount a legitimate disc has.


This is correct, also a copied disc will be purple. The original will be silver. But keep in mind that some of the DVDs out there are not mass produced. Some are made by the author, in this case the disc might be purple because he burned them himself. I would think all of L&L's would be silver and have the name written on the inner side of the disc. This will go for most of the larger named publishers.
Message: Posted by: WR (Sep 13, 2004 4:44pm)
Magic dealers are required to sell DVD's at a certian price. THis is so dealer A and dealer B are competivie. If it it too cheap watch out. I sell them as overstock but all are origionals...Then again I am NOT a dealer so...
WR
Message: Posted by: Daegs (Sep 14, 2004 12:21am)
Quote:
Good idea Fire, now you just have to buy the copyright to the videos so you'll be in a position to do so.


I just want to note that even that may be enough, remember they are in another country, US copyright laws probably don't have any meaning in japan, though if LL owns Japanese copyrights they might have legal action.

I see this same thing in internet laws, and copyright laws all the time...

I don't think its right, but you can't go around trying to inforce US laws on other countries!
Message: Posted by: Big Jeff (Sep 14, 2004 1:42am)
Fake DVDs' come from cbs news.
Message: Posted by: Whetter 007 (Sep 14, 2004 8:05am)
I've lived in Shanghai for over a year now and I haven't found a western style magic store or any magic DVD's.

They copy things here as part of normal business, so I wouldn't be surprised one day to run across something in my travels.

Martin
Message: Posted by: Mezmer (Sep 30, 2004 12:20am)
There are a lot of fake copies on EBAY. Make sure it is an original before you bid! I got scammed on Videomind last year. They were made with a laser printer and a DVD burner on a home PC! Watch out.
Message: Posted by: sullivanl (Apr 30, 2005 2:28pm)
Quote:

On 2004-08-15 05:42, sharpace wrote:
Last month I 've stayed in Hong Kong. I've been to that magic shop located at 188 shopping center. At first there are some tricks which I'm interested and want to buy from them. But I found their wall hanging all pirated DVDs (more than 200 titiles,mostly from L&L ) that really surprised me. (I cannot understand why they can sell those pirated DVDs s so openly!!)


I also live in Hong Kong for the past 18 years and I have noticed the rampant pirating of magic merchandise and am horrified and appalled. Every DVD in this store is pirated, and they have over 200 titles and 3 different shop locations throughout Hong Kong and the outlying islands.

This is a matter than needs to be dealt with swiftly and effectivly. I know quite a lot about copyright law in Asia and Hong Kong, and could help out people with copyright infringement if there was a desire from the producers of these DVDs to stop the piracy. In this case it is particularly easier because they are selling these DVDs right out of an actual shop, not on the street. They also sell the DVDs for close to retail price.

This is a disgrace to the magic community, and I can’t believe I see it happening on this scale. Please PM or email me from my site www.hongkongmagicman.com if you know people that can help me stop this piracy.
Message: Posted by: kuroko (May 1, 2005 3:47am)
No, they're two store within the same mall.
The one you mentioned is not the one opened by the famous magician

Quote:

On 2004-08-15 05:42, sharpace wrote:
Last month I 've stayed in Hong Kong. I've been to that magic shop located at 188 shopping center. At first there are some tricks which I'm interested and want to buy from them. But I found their wall hanging all pirated DVDs (more than 200 titiles,mostly from L&L ) that really surprised me. (I cannot understand why they can sell those pirated DVDs s so openly!!)

After I seen this I give up to buy anythings from them!!!!!!!!!!!

My firends in Hong Kong told me that the shop is owned by a famous Hong Kong magician. WHAT a SHAME!!!@@@
Message: Posted by: Magnus Eisengrim (May 1, 2005 12:39pm)
My L&L DVDs have Partial titles etched into the ring around the translucent disk around the centre hole, on the shiny side of the disk (eg CUPSANDBALLS or FLIPSROPE). Anyone know if pirates are able to do this as well? Or do they bother?

John
Message: Posted by: millarhouse (May 1, 2005 4:07pm)
I purchased "Front Row Sankey" from Penguin Magic, and to my surprise it was a burnt DVD. I was expecting a pressed DVD and was very disappointed.

Warren
Message: Posted by: Brian Proctor (May 1, 2005 4:16pm)
There are some people who have decided to make DVDs on their own at home. Jim Pace's last dvd was home made. It came on a burned disc. I had no problem with it.
Message: Posted by: Henryharrius (May 2, 2005 12:06am)
Yes, there are two store in 188 shopping center in Hong Kong. The one by the famous magician is on the first floor, who NEVER sells privated DVDS. The one on the second floor is the one you mentioned...
Message: Posted by: ashah (May 2, 2005 1:03am)
Piracy seems to be a rampant problem around the world. It's not just magic either -- Hollywood movies, music, software, etc. are all pirated.

I hope that these practices will at least slow down in the future. I can imagine a world in which all of the above industries cease to exist because they are not profitable any more. It's not pretty.
Message: Posted by: Chris Keppel (May 2, 2005 2:02am)
Quote:

On 2005-05-01 16:07, millarhouse wrote:
I purchased "Front Row Sankey" from Penguin Magic, and to my surprise it was a burnt DVD. I was expecting a pressed DVD and was very disappointed.

Warren


that's because sankey made them like that. Has nothing to do with penguin. Penguin dvds that they make are all pressed to perfection. Its really not a big deal because its not like its a fake, its just not pressed. You cant really press only 200 othewise its pricey. that's most likely why sankey did that. No different then some of these vcd's that people put out. Really they are even cheaper because you can pick up a 100 spindle of cd r's for around 8 bucks. that's .08 cents each. Then these guys go and sell it for 30.00, now that I would be unhappy about.
Message: Posted by: daffydoug (May 3, 2005 5:19pm)
Quote:

On 2004-09-30 00:20, Mezmer wrote:
There are a lot of fake copies on EBAY. Make sure it is an original before you bid! I got scammed on Videomind last year. They were made with a laser printer and a DVD burner on a home PC! Watch out.


Ebay is supposed to PROHIBIT that kind of crap, but they mosy definitely do NOT enforce it.

I bought the Munsters DVDs during one of my first purchases to ebay, and it turned out to be pirated. Wasn't hard to tell, when I saw the TBS logo in the corner of the screen. Coied off someone's TV set. And then, they only half ass played. Sometimes they wouldn't even play at all. I was P.O.d to say the least. Trying to get my money back was like pulling teeth. The jerk just made excuses and denied it. The big liar.

If anybody wants the name of the seller who ripped me off, I will gladly tell them. Just Pm me.
Message: Posted by: impossible man (May 10, 2012 6:46am)
I'd like to resurrect this topic because I want to start shopping for DVDs off eBay again, but I see a lot of good material going slightly lowball from Asia and I don't trust it. Do I have to look for private sellers selling used copies?
Message: Posted by: eatonmagic (May 11, 2012 9:07pm)
Quote:

On 2004-08-14 12:32, jimtron wrote:
Pirated DVDs often use color laser copies for the sleeve artwork. I doubt that DVD bootleggers use real 4 color printing.


Not necessarily. With gang-run printing now being available and dirt cheap, these could easily be reproduced withe a hi-res scan and printing. Overnight prints, Vistaprint, etc.
Message: Posted by: MaxfieldsMagic (May 13, 2012 9:10pm)
Quote:

On 2012-05-10 06:46, impossible man wrote:
I'd like to resurrect this topic because I want to start shopping for DVDs off eBay again, but I see a lot of good material going slightly lowball from Asia and I don't trust it. Do I have to look for private sellers selling used copies?


I bought a set of Rene Lavand DVD's from some guy in Singapore or something on Ebay a few years ago. All burned copies, it turned out, with scanned and copied artwork. It wasn't even a super cheap price, which is why I thought they were probably real prior to purchase. Everything on Ebay goes through Paypal now, though, so you'll have some recourse if that happens.
Message: Posted by: manipulator (May 23, 2012 2:48pm)
Even though ebay may not enforce, can we contact ebay customer service, open a case in the resolution center, then request a refund from the seller? Is the seller required to refund that way? Just curious as I am planning to buy something off of ebay too.

I know that a few years ago (maybe before 2005), pirated CDs/DVDs/VCDs were sold openly in a lot of places in Asia, but that has changed (I don't know about magic DVDs specifically, but for regular movies/CD albums, sellers go to jail for selling pirated copies). So due to stricter law enforcement, that has gotten better. A couple years ago when I visited Asia again, I no longer saw any store selling pirated copies openly.
Message: Posted by: Olympic Adam (May 23, 2012 4:08pm)
Had trouble getting money back for something pirated before, it was a rare release of a fan club CD so eBay had no way to prove that it was fake! I had to get a letter printed from the fan club and send it to eBay by a certain date etc, hard work.

With magic DVDs I could see a similar problem, being that they are created by a lot of regular people (not big publishers) these days compared to other items in the mainstream

I try to be careful but take educated risks at times because of a good deal, rarely had any trouble

I generally look for a photo from a real person on eBay, no stock photos and check where they are etc.

Also I check the seller out, previous listings etc, if they aren't there, I wonder why, if they are there I check what they sold, to see if it is multiple copies being sold, which may indicate someone running a print off!
Message: Posted by: Miraclemakers (May 27, 2012 11:15am)
In my country, you can get that 3 dvd set for under $10..... No dvd cover, just a copied dvd from original.... So sad, but its a fact... Just try to buy from autorize seller, buy the original and respect the art.