Need help authenticating a CD

[kajnrig]

Hey all. I just bought this...

https://www.ebay.com/itm/MACROSS-PLUS-VOL-1-SOUNDTRACK-/222881631268

...and was wondering if any of you could help determine its authenticity or lack thereof. I've noticed discrepancies between the advertisement title, the pictures provided, and the actual product.

- The title and item description refers to the CD as "Macross Plus Vol. 1 Soundtrack," something that doesn't exist. The closest thing is "Macross Plus Original Soundtrack," the first soundtrack album released for the OVA. That album has 11 tracks.

- The picture shows "Macross Plus Original Soundtrack Plus - for fans only" (the kana in the left margin), the third album released, containing music from the movie version of Macross Plus. That soundtrack has 13 tracks.

- The actual product says "Macross Plus Original Soundtrack Plus - for fans only," corroborating the picture and contradicting the title and item description. The musical content is also consistent with the album in the picture (13 tracks). However...

• the cover art on the actual product is different from that of the picture (the "Macross Plus" is the same font as that used on movie/DVD/BD covers, promotional materials, etc., rather than the plain black seen in the picture)
• the actual product lacks the kana along the left-hand side that features in the picture
• the CD itself shows signs of being a burned disc, but I can't tell for sure if that's the case (just suspicion based on the distinct band around the rim of the CD; from my experience that's the result of data not being burned across the whole 700 MB of CD space)(the CD is ~450 MB full)

I've attached a fairly thorough set of pictures which you can compare to the one provided in the listing. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

[jvmacross]

Are the attached pics the CD you received?  If so...SM is bootleg copy

[kajnrig]

Yep, attached pics are mine. Shame, I shoulda known the deal was too good to be true. Thanks for the info.

[Fortress_Maximus]

SM are non-licensed versions. If all you want is the music and booklet at reasonable prices it is a good alternative. If you want the licensed version then it tend to get pricier. Still you got it at a good price $9.00 it is not a loss.

Edited March 23, 2018 by Fortress_Maximus

[no3Ljm]

How bootleg is SM if I may ask? And when you say bootleg in this case, is this something copied 100% from the original kind of like piracy or contents that was not approved by the copyright holders but still the same released versions of the original?

But yeah, I also agree with Fortress_Maximus. It's a good alternative if you just want to listen to the same music.

 

[Shizuka the Cat]

46 minutes ago, no3Ljm said:

How bootleg is SM if I may ask? And when you say bootleg in this case, is this something copied 100% from the original kind of like piracy or contents that was not approved by the copyright holders but still the same released versions of the original?

But yeah, I also agree with Fortress_Maximus. It's a good alternative if you just want to listen to the same music.

 

SonMay Records, aka SM Records, was a Taiwanese bootleg company.

You won't find SM Records bootleg CDs made after 2002, the year Taiwan joined the World Trade Organization, thus being required to abide by international copyright laws.

Unfortunately, the Macross Plus soundtracks were circa 1995.

Edited March 23, 2018 by Shizuka the Cat

[no3Ljm]

31 minutes ago, Shizuka the Cat said:

SonMay Records, aka SM Records, was a Taiwanese bootleg company.

You won't find SM Records bootleg CDs made after 2002, the year Taiwan joined the World Trade Organization, thus being required to abide by international copyright laws.

Unfortunately, the Macross Plus soundtracks were circa 1995.

Oh. Thanks. This I didn't know. I have a few CD's back in the Philippines and mostly are SDFM ones. But not sure if it's SM Records.

So basically, it's a 'pirated version' of the original, right? And not something 'unreleased' like what bootleg is from what I know, correct?

This is why I ask. Because from I know, Bootleg CD would be more like a recording that was made on the sly without permission or final approval from the group being recorded--like a recording of a live concert. Whereas, Pirated CD or DVD is one that is illegally copied from the original.

 

[Shizuka the Cat]

Pirated would be appropriate then....

I suppose one could argue that, from the perspective of Taiwan pre-2002, it might not be considered pirated.

However, I think Victor Records, Big West, the creators of Macross, and all the member countries of the WTO, including Japan, would consider SM Records CDs to be pirated.

 

Edited March 24, 2018 by Shizuka the Cat

[ScrambledValkyrie]

I've learned to avoid SM records through my experience in game soundtrack CDs.

Another similar label to steer clear of (if you want the original print version) is EverAnime.

[kajnrig]

Well, I'm glad my experience helped inform more people, at least.  This is good to know, especially as I (probably) ramp up my physical music collection. I need me a Macross Plus deluxe box set that includes all four soundtracks on it now.

[no3Ljm]

Thanks for this guys! I didn't know it was pirated so I guess I did a 'innocent' purchase back then. And that's only for 2 Macross CD's.

 

[jvmacross]

I have the original SDFM albums on vinyl and some cassette tapes  ......everything else is bootleg, except maybe the Macross Plus CDs and a few of the compilation CDs....zero guilt about it....I spend more than my fair share on other legit Macross merchandise to make up for it....