Patent ID: 8374920

Claim:
An apparatus, comprising: a processor; and a memory having stored therein machine executable instructions, that when executed, cause the apparatus at least to: process a request to create a listing for an item for sale in an online auction; process a manufacturer and product code indicated to be associated with the item; compare the product code to a listing of product codes associated with the manufacturer; post the listing on an online auction website; determine that the item is potentially counterfeit due to the product code not matching at least one product code included in the listing of product codes; and in response to the determining, permit the listing to identify the manufacturer as a producer of the item and to remain on the online auction website even though the item is potentially counterfeit, identify a second item that is associated with a seller of the item, and track a sale or an attempted sale of the item and a sale or an attempted sale of the second item via the online auction website.