Patent ID: 8872622

Claim:
Brand “source” authentication; comprising, a). A brand “source” identifier including: i). at least a first human observable surface; ii). authenticator indicia carried by said first human observable surface; iii). said authenticator indicia indicating the Brand “source” of the authenticator; iv). authentication indicia also carried by said identifier; v). said authentication indicia including at least encoded symbology which, when decoded, indicate the Brand “source” pertinent to the placement of said identifier; and vi). a selected portion of said identifier being usable to present said identifier for human observation to facilitate recognition of said authenticator indicia and verification of the Brand “source” authentication indicia; b). said authenticator providing a selected number of said identifiers upon request by the authentication Brand “source”; c). said authenticator receiving and storing, in an authenticator data storage, data concerning use of said selected number of said identifiers; d). said authenticator furthermore receiving all requests for verification of authentication Brand “source” to enable said authenticator to advise an inquiring party of such verification or of the lack of same.