If there is one risk that all DVD collectors face, especially when dealing with private sellers, it is the chance that the DVD you purchase may not be genuine.

As a result, you may be getting a product of significantly lower quality and diminished life expectancy. There are a number of methods you can use to verify whether your DVD really is the real thing.

The Cover

Pirated DVDs possess a few telltale signs that may flag them as not being genuine. Some of these indications are evident without even looking at the actual disc itself and some are more obvious than others. For example, Disney has been known to place holograms on some of its releases.

This identifying mark, however, is not present on most DVDs. In that case you should look for other indicators such as the print quality of the artwork, which, on most genuine DVDs, is usually clear, detailed and smudge free. In addition, you should take a close look at the lettering and check for clarity. A good indicator is generally the barcode as it is simply black on white. This is the best place to look for ink that has run or smeared.

You may also want to check for fading, although this step may only be useful on newer DVDs as DVD covers can fade over time, especially if they are stored in an area that receives direct exposure to sunlight. The wording may also be an important indicator. For example, if the text on the back is littered with spelling and grammatical errors then it is a pretty safe bet that it is not legitimate. Also, keep an eye out for cheap plastic cases and, if a DVD is simply contained in a cardboard sleeve and is sold by some guy at the subway station, stay away.

Packaging

This is another obvious way of scrutinizing the authenticity of your DVD. For example, if you purchased a DVD online that claims to be new then it should come wrapped in plastic. You should also check to see if there is a security seal on the case (although this may not be as clear-cut as it used to be because many budget DVDs no longer come sealed, particularly after the introduction of Blu-ray)

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