Patent ID: 8099338

Claim:
A method for managing a non-depleting virtual item return in a virtual universe performed using at least one computing device, the method comprising: initiating a return of the virtual item by a user in the virtual universe using the at least one computing device, granting control of the return of the virtual item to a return agency using the at least one computing device, the return agency validating a condition of the virtual item and submitting a return request on behalf of the user to a vendor in the virtual universe associated with the virtual item, the validating of the condition includes determining whether the virtual item has been duplicated or altered, and the return request includes an indication of the condition of the virtual item; upon approval of the return request by the vendor in the virtual universe, sending instructions to the user to destroy disable the virtual item using the at least one computing device, the approval of the return request is based on the condition of the virtual item being within vendor defined requirements; and upon confirmation of the destruction disabling of the virtual item by the user, crediting the user for the return using the at least one computing device.