Ask John: What Is An SM CD?

Question:
What is the difference between SM CDs and regular CDs?

Answer:
SM and Ever Anime brand CDs are much cheaper than original Japanese import versions of the same discs because SM CDs are “bootleg” copies made in Taiwan. Taiwan has very few international copyright recognition laws, which are rarely enforced, so these unlicensed copies are prevalent in Taiwan. They are, none-the-less, bootlegs because they are not officially recognized, issued or approved by the proper, legal Japanese license holders, and the sale of these CDs does not provide appropriate financial reparation to the official copyright holder. It’s largely for this reason that AnimeNation does not carry SM or Ever Anime CDs. We only sell legitimate, licensed, original Japanese import CDs. While SM, Ever Anime and other bootleg anime and J-pop CDs look virtually identical to the original Japanese issues, these bootlegs can always be recognized by looking for the SM/Ever Anime/etc. brand logo on the discs. Furthermore, original Japanese CDs will always have their yen price and date of issue labeled on the back of the jewel case. Bootleg CDs do not contain any of this information.