noun
seller; sales agency; distributor
Refers to the company or entity that releases and sells a product, often seen on product packaging or in business contexts.
このCDの発売元は大手レコード会社です。
The seller of this CD is a major record company.
商品パッケージに発売元
The name of the sales agency is written on the product package.
製造元 is the manufacturer, distinct from the seller or distributor. A product may have a different 製造元 and 発売元.
Compound of 発売 (release for sale) and 元 (source, origin).