EDIT 6: Legitimate Japanese release cover images and links to Amazon dot com listings for them are added at the bottom of the journal.

EDIT 5: More Ebay listings found, past listings updated, = Edit 5 listings added.

EDIT 4: More Ebay listings found, = Edit 4 listings added.

EDIT 3: If you want to know how to identify bootleg ripoff fake DVDs from legitimate licensed DVDs, I posted a journal here that provides links to resources that will help you in identifying the bootlegs.  [link]

EDIT 2: More Ebay listings found, = Edit 2 listings added, = original post listings.

EDIT 1: Thank you to for this info:  Another red flag that ensures 100% positive that a DVD is a bootleg ripoff - Region 0.  Only personal DVDR's make those, not companies, ergo, it's stolen property.  [link]

DVD and Blu-ray Region Encoding
Global region codes identify specific DVDs and Blu-ray discs that are compatible with the players typically sold in that region. The majority of all current titles play in only one specific region unless otherwise noted.

Standard DVDs
    Region 1: U.S., U.S. Territories, Canada, and Bermuda
    Region 2: Japan, Europe, South Africa, and the Middle East, including Egypt
    Region 3: Southeast Asia, East Asia, including Hong Kong
    Region 4: Australia, New Zealand, Pacific Islands, Mexico, Central America, South America, Caribbean
    Region 5: Former Soviet Union, Indian subcontinent, Africa, North Korea, and Mongolia
    Region 6: China

Blu-ray Discs
    Region A/1: North America, Central America, South America, Japan, North Korea, South Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Southeast Asia.
    Region B/2: Europe, Greenland, French territories, Middle East, Africa, Australia and New Zealand.
    Region C/3: India, Nepal, Mainland China, Russia, Central and South Asia.

For more information about how to spot bootleg DVDs, please see my subsequent journal here --> [link]
For a list of legitimate TFPrime DVD's, see my journal post here --> [link]


I am posting this as a warning to all Transformers fans on my watch list.  I have received confirmation directly from Hasbro through a reliable contact that the DVD pictured above is a 3rd party bootleg ripoff, ergo stolen and not a legitimate product.  The photos were taken from an Ebay seller here --> [link]
and the company distributing it is here --> [link]

It is being made in and sold from Malaysia and is not a licensed product.  My ONLY reason for posting the photos in my scraps is to warn others not to purchase this DVD.  Here are all the bootleg copies being sold on Ebay so far, please help report these stolen products to Ebay as bootleg merchandise.  If you find one that is not listed, please let me know so I can add it to the list and help by reporting all listings selling these bootleg ripoffs.:

Bootleg TF Prime Season 1 (Auction Ended): [link]
Bootleg TF Prime Season 1 (Auction Terminated): [link]
Bootleg TF Prime Season 1 (Auction Ended): [link]
Bootleg TF Prime Season 1 (Auction Ended): [link]
Bootleg TF Prime Season 1 (Auction Ended): [link]
Bootleg TF Prime Season 1 and Robots in Disguise (Auction Ended): [link]
Bootleg TF Prime Season 1 (Auction Active): [link]
Bootleg TF Prime Season 1 (Auction Active): [link]
Bootleg TF Prime Season 1 (Auction Deleted): [link]
Bootleg TF Prime Season 1 (Auction Active): [link]
Bootleg TF Prime Season 1 (Auction Terminated): [link]
Bootleg TF Prime Season 1 (Auction Terminated): [link]
Bootleg TF Prime Season 1 (Auction Active): [link]
Bootleg TF Prime Season 1 (Auction Active): [link]
Bootleg TF Prime Season 1 (Auction Ended): [link]

DO NOT BUY FROM THEM!  THEY ARE SELLING BOOTLEG PRODUCTS, STOLEN MERCHANDISE!  By buying these bootleg DVD's you are receiving stolen property which is punishable by law.  I found out about it only because someone posted the exact same photo of the front cover in the group , of which I am a member.  I researched the photo trying to find out if it was actually a legitimate product and found that you can only get it on Ebay or through the distributor linked above.  After sending the information to a friend with connections to Hasbro, I received confirmation that these are in fact 3rd party bootleg ripoffs.  Legitimate copies will look like the US release and have the 5 part Darkness Rising and have all the relevant logos on them: Hasbro, The Hub, and/or Takara Tomy.  As far as I understand it, the only companies I know of who have legitimate distribution rights for Hasbro/Takara (besides Hasbro Studios) shows are "Kid Rhino/WEA", "Shout! Factory", and "Vivendi Entertainment" through Shout! Factory (outside of Paramount and the live movies of course).  In Australia, "Madman Entertainment" holds the distribution license.  If you want to know what the legitimate US release looks like, I have photos of it in the thumbnail below.


For those who think the DVD is from Japan:  It's a bootleg from Malaysia!  All of the listings say the menu is in Chinese, the subtitles are in English and Chinese, and that it is produced/authorized in Malaysia.  The "Asian Characters" are even Chinese!  How does anyone get Japan from that?  Sorry, but Malaysia is NOT in Japan!  Malaysia is South of India with Singapore just South of Malaysia.  Japan is east of Korea.  Malaysia and Japan are about as far from each other as Canada and Mexico.  Google map search it, duh!  [link]

Yes, I took and reposted the photos of the bootleg DVD, but I admitted they are not mine, I linked to where I got them, and I did so in order to show people what the bootleg ripoff looks like.  Nothing more.  I NEVER took credit for them, nor did I claim them as mine.  As for my "connection to Hasbro", yes I do in fact know people directly connected to Hasbro.  I will not reveal them because I do not want people harassing them, though I know people are going to call me a liar if I don't reveal my sources.  If my sources and connections wish to reveal themselves, it is their choice.  I know how to keep a confidence.  Duh.  I was not born yesterday, and I do my research.

It makes me sick that these thieves are selling not just Transformers Prime, but 8 other Transformers titles and who knows what other Hasbro or Takara property they have stolen.  This is why I am putting the word out to others not to buy these bootleg DVD's.  Support the companies that brought to life the characters we love, not some thief hiding in another country.


Transformers: Prime Volume 1 [Optimus Prime cover] (Released August 31, 2012) AVBA-49818 - Contains the first two episodes of "Darkness Rising" parts 1 and 2.
Transformers: Prime Volume 2 [Bumblebee cover] (Released August 31, 2012) AVBA-49819 - Contains the episodes "Darkness Rising" parts 3 and 4.
Transformers: Prime Volume 3 [Megatron cover] (Released August 31, 2012) AVBA-49820 - Contains the episodes "Darkness Rising: Part 5" and "Masters & Students".
Transformers: Prime Volume 4 [Bulkhead cover] (Released September 28, 2012) AVBA-49844 - Contains the episodes "Scrapheap" and "Con Job".
Transformers: Prime Volume 5 [Starscream cover] (Released September 28, 2012) AVBA-49845 - Contains the episodes "Convoy" and "Duex ex Machina".
"Transformers: Prime Volume 6 [Arcee cover] (Released October 26, 2012) AVBA-49907 - Contains the episodes "Speed Metal" and "Predatory".
"Transformers: Prime Volume 7 [Soundwave cover] (Released October 26, 2012) AVBA-49908 - Contains the episodes "Sick Mind" and "Out of His Head".
Transformers: Prime Volume 8 [Breakdown cover] (Released November 30, 2012) AVBA-49959 - Contains the episodes "Shadowzone" and "Operation: Breakdown".
Transformers: Prime Volume 9 [Ratchet cover] (Released November 30, 2012) AVBA-49960 - Contains the episodes "Crisscross" and "Metal Attraction".

Transformers: Prime Japan Volume 6 and 7 are out but not on Amazon as yet, I will update the image and list as soon as it and future releases are available.  You can also get them here --> [link]