What's the UPC?

Hmmm, I may have misread the UPC/EAN.

The number under the barcode is 085391524328, which comes out as Seven Days in May (r1/NTSC)

However, looking more closely there is a 0 before the barcode.  If you include that you get an unrecognised EAN of 0085391524328, so I'm now thinking I should add the 0 to the number I have and submit this with a 13-digit EAN, which I believe is more normal for non-R1 disks.

Thanks guys.

Quoting LenG:

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Is it safe to submit this (I don't want to overwrite what is already there).

As long as you set the Locality right: It is absolutely safe!

Furthermore: This is exactly what the Locality is there for, to distinguish between releases in different countries, so 085391524328-US and 085391524328-yourLocality would be two totally different database entries.

cya, Mithi

I think we need a scan or a photo of the offending item. I did a quick google search and can't find it released as a Region 2 title either.

Quoting GreyHulk:

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I think we need a scan or a photo of the offending item. I did a quick google search and can't find it released as a Regin 2 title either.

I found this on amazon.co.uk

As I said I'm out on a limb, and it's almost impossible to prove a DVD really being a bootleg. They don't have the word bootleg written out on them, and the goal of a bootlegger is to make his disc look like a legit release.

My suspicion is based on the following points: the entry found at amazon.co.uk is made by a marketplace seller, there's no release date, no studio, just a spanish cover.

Going over to dvdgo.es, there actually is a DVD from Warner available (Siete Días de Mayo), but with a completely different cover. The good thing is, it's very similar to the cover you linked. The bad thing is, I can't even find this one on ezydvd.com.au, so it doesn't seem to be released in Australia either.

The next thing, that doesn't add up: Alliance Atlantis is a Canadian company. They used to release/distribute most titles from New Line, Miramax and Universal in Canada. But they're not active in DVD distribution outside of Canada. This said, it gets even more grotesque with the "Made in China" remark, because most DVD manufacturing plants are actually located in the US, Mexico, Europe (UK, Germany, Austria) and Japan. DVDs/BDs belong to last products, that don't come regularly from China.

Another subtle thing that wouldn't happen unnoted on a Warner release is the abscence of the DVD-Video logo on the front cover. Yes, even Warner messes up releases, but a little thing like a missing logo is something where corporate hell breaks loose...

Considering all this points, there's a very high probability this either being the Spanish DVD itself, that has been illegaly repacked by a professional bootleg company operating from Asia (it's not always China *g*), or simply a bootleg of the Spanish DVD made from scratch.

It wouldn't be the first time; Warner released "Rest Stop" in Germany only in a cut version, but the Spanish DVD contained the uncut version with complete German language track. Suddenly "German" uncut DVDs began appearing, using the Spanish disc and a very professional German bootleg cover, using the EAN of the cut version. If you wouldn't know it, you wouldn't suspect anything. And the bootlegger doesn't care for the UPC/EAN he uses, as long as it looks legit.

That's why I only buy retail – in case of the online shops meaning, I never buy from marketplaces and similar selling platforms. Unfortunatly, it has become a real pain in the a**, when you want to buy DVDs from Amazon.com, but there's just too many crap out there getting sold.

Quoting LenG:

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Both have the DVD-Video logo on the front but the only mention of Warner Bros. appears on the back (of the database copy, that is, I haven't seen the back of the Spanish copy).

This is correct, the WB logo usually only apperars on spine and backcover. I was actually thinking the DVD-Video logo is missing on your DVD; but I think I've found your DVD in the online database, already entered under the Disc ID and UK locality. Is it 3456-9AE1-CB80-552B?

The backcover shows the 12-digit UPC of the North American release from Warner, converted into a 13-digit EAN by adding another 0 (zero) in front. That's very sneaky, but Warner woudn't have used that on a European (or even Australian) release. The Spanish DVD carries a valid 13-digit EAN (5051893012637) maintained by WHV UK. And it's in the database with nice cover scans, showing Warners recognizable design elements, you'll find on virtually worldwide on every backcover of a Warner release.

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The more I look at the copy I have the more confused I get.  If I were bootlegging it, why would I rework the artwork so extensively?  The supertitle "The Iconic Series" makes no sense whatsoever to me.  The subtitle "The Burt Lancaster Collection" makes more sense but why bother?  Why not just use the US cover and change the EAN and region coding boxes?

You're right, there are much simpler ways to obscure bootlegs. I guess some bootleggers are too self-absorbed to give a thought about that. From your description, I'm pretty sure thats the disc entered under its Disc ID. And there is absolutly no way, this being a release from Warner. Looking at the backcovers of any random Warner titles from the US, the UK, Germany, Italy, France, Australia or Spain, there are obvious variants when it comes to the inclusion of the rating certificates, but there are always very recognizable design elements that Warner uses. And there are very specific copyright notices referring to Warner Home Video or parent company Warner Bros. Entertainment.

Looking at the backcover of disc [3456-9AE1-CB80-552B], there is no way this being from Warner, even the fine printed copyright notes are some random babble, poorly begging to seem legit. I'm sorry, but whoever sold you this disc, tricked you.

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And why put Made in China on the disk of a bootleg?  I think you may find more DVDs are being made in China than you give credit for, M_E.

That depends on where and what kind of discs you buy. If you shop around in Asia, you will without doubt get many discs that were made in China. In Europe and Northern America not so much. The manufacturing plants usually offer short-term storage and deployment, that's the most expensive part of the whole process. Having containers of DVDs shipping in from China, you'd still need storage space (something no one is willing to pay anymore) and someone to organize the deployment. Costs would be the same, not taking in account additional freight costs and customs. The actual manufacturing of a disc costs virtually nothing, so there's fortunatly still no way to compensate the additional costs of shipping bulks of DVDs around the whole world instead of producing them in the (relative) region.

Speaking of Europe (actually the whole EMEA region), there are basically four companies producing the bulk of the discs: Sony DADC in Anif and Thalgau (both Austria), Cinram in Alsdorf (Germany), Ipswich (UK) and two plants in France, Technicolor with plants in Wales, Luxembourg and Poland, and Sonopress/Arvato in Gütersloh (Germany).

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You have made me suspicious of this disk, but short of contacting Warner I really don't know how one can resolve the issue definitively.

After seeing the backcover, I'm certain it's a bootleg. Of course you could ask Warner if there is a RC2 release available, but I wouldn't be surprised, if they wouldn't even bother to answer.

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I'm going to leave the submission but if you wish to vote against it I won't be offended.

Edit: Oops - too late, it has been released.

Doesn't matter, because no one can vote on initial contributions. Also no one can vote on profiles he doesn't have in his collection.

Just out of curiosity, could you check if the video on this disc is actually really PAL (25 fps) or NTSC (29.97 fps)? I think the simplest method to determine, is to open the main feature in VLC player and hit Ctrl+J (codec details).

I agree this seems to be a bootleg. There should be some sort of certification on the package for a Region 2 DVD.

Region 2 DVDs in NTSC are becoming more common though. Recently both Street Hawk and the new Twilight Zone releases are unconverted NTSC. There are others in my collection, but I cannot remember them at this time.

I can usually tell when I play them, because my trusty Pioneer will switch from PAL to NTSC and there's a very noticeable jump and it looks quite different. (I get 'scan-lines' on my picture). (Oh, and I always check it with AnyDVD too).

If I'm rambling, I can only apologise. This is me not coping with mornings.