Method and system for verifying the authenticity of an autograph

• US 5,971,435 A
• Filed: 12/10/1997
• Issued: 10/26/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 12/10/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Darryl Najewski, Robert D. Dicesare
• Original Assignee: Darryl Najewski, Robert D. Dicesare
• Inventors: Najewski, Darryl, DiCesare, Robert D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Fridie, Jr., Willmon
• Assistant Examiner(s): Henderson, Mark T.
• Application Number:
  US08/988,459
• Time in Patent Office: 685 Days
• Field of Search: 283/60.1, 283/67, 283/70, 283/72
• US Class Current: 283/70
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 25/29 Securities; Bank notes

Abstract

A method and system for verifying the authenticity and ownership of an autograph comprises:

providing a consumer-owned article; and

having the article autographed with the consumer and a representative of an authentication company as witnesses;

issuing a voucher bearing details of the autographing and signatures and identification of the witnesses and an identifying code number;

affixing the same identifying code number to the article;

providing a certificate of authenticity bearing a distinct code number that is different from the code number of the article and the voucher, and containing a description of the article, details of the signing and witnessing of the autographing, and identification of the owner of the article; and

providing a database containing details of the signing and witnessing of the autographing, a record of the code numbers on the article and the certificate; and identification of the owner of the article.

The method also provides a record of subsequent transfers of ownership of the article.

Claims

1. A method for verifying the authenticity of an autograph comprising the steps of:

A) having a consumer provide an article to be autographed;

B) having the article autographed by a celebrity whose autograph is desired by the consumer;

C) having the consumer and a representative of an authenticating company witness the autographing;

D) providing a voucher containing;

a description of the article;

a date and place of the autographing of the article;

identification and signatures of the consumer and the representative, as witnesses to the autographing of the article;

identification of a person who autographed the article; and

an identifying code number;

E) affixing to the article an identifying code number;

F) providing to the consumer a certificate of authenticity issued by the authentication company and containing;

a description of the article together with the date and place of the autographing;

a name of the celebrity who autographed the article;

identification of consumer to whom the article belongs and who was witness to the autographing; and

a distinct code number that is different from the code number of step D and step E;

G) providing a database containing;

the distinct code number set forth on the certificate of authenticity;

the identifying code number affixed to the article;

identification of the consumer and the name of representative;

both of whom witnesses the autographing;

a description of the article;

identification of the person who autographed the article; and

the date, and place of the autographing.

2. A method according to claim 1 wherein said voucher is retained by the representative for subsequent entry into the database and a copy of said voucher is given to consumer.

3. A method according to claim 1 wherein the code number on the voucher is the same as the code number on the article.

4. A method according to claim 1 wherein the database comprises a computer-controlled electronic file.

5. A method according to claim 4 wherein the database further comprises a physical file containing the voucher.

6. A method according to claim 1 wherein the certificate of authenticity bears a logo identifying an entity associated with obtaining and authenticating the autographed article.

7. A method according to claim 6 wherein the entity is said authentication company.

8. A method according to claim 6 wherein the entity is a sponsoring institution.

9. A method according to claim 2 wherein the article is an article associated with a sport and is autographed by a celebrity associated with said sport.

10. A method according to claim 2 wherein the article is a book autographed by an author.

11. A method according to claim 5 wherein said article is subsequently sold by said consumer to a new owner and ownership of the article is transferred to the new owner by the steps of

a) having the consumer and the new owner submit a signed request to the authentication company for a new certificate of authenticity;

b)having the consumer surrender the certificate of authenticity to the authentication company.

c)having the authentication company issue a new certificate of authenticity bearing a new code number;

a description of the article;

identification of the new owner;

the date and place of the autographing; and

the name of the celebrity who autographed the article.

d) having the details of the transfer of ownership entered into the database to maintain a history of ownership of said article; and

e) placing the surrendered certificate of authenticity in the physical file of the database.

12. A method for verifying the authenticity of an autograph on an article comprising the steps of:

a) having a consumer provide an article to be autographed;

b) having the article autographed by a celebrity whose autograph is desired by the consumer;

c) having the consumer and a representative of an authentication company witness the autographing;

d) electronically transmitting to a computer database;

a description of the article;

a date and place of the autographing of the article;

identification and signatures of the consumer and the representative, as witnesses to the autographing of the article;

identification of a person who autographed the article; and

an identifying code number;

e) affixing to the article an identifying code number;

f) providing a certificate of authenticity containing;

a description of the article together with the date and place of the autographing;

the name of the celebrity who autographed the article;

identification of the consumer to whom the article belongs and who was witness to the autographing; and

a distinct code number that is different from the code number of step D and step E.

13. A method according to claim 12 wherein said article is subsequently transferred to a new owner and a new certificate of authenticity is issued by the authentication company by carrying out the following steps:

a) having the consumer and the new owner each sign and submit to the authentication company, a request for a new certificate of authenticity;

b) having the consumer surrender the certificate of authenticity to the authentication company;

c) placing the certificate of authenticity into a physical file maintained by the authentication company;

d) having the authentication company issue a new certificate of authenticity bearing a new code number;

identification of the new owner;

a description of the autographed article;

the date and place of autographing;

the name of the celebrity who autographed the article; and

e)having details of the transfer of ownership entered into the database to maintain a history of ownership of said autographed article.

14. A method according to claim 12 wherein the certificate of authenticity bears a logo identifying an entity associated with obtaining and authenticating the autographed article.

15. A method according to claim 14 wherein the entity is said authentication company.

16. A method according to claim 14 wherein the entity is a sponsoring institution.

17. A method according to claim 12 wherein the article is an article associated with a sport and is autographed by a celebrity associated with said sport.

18. A method according to claim 12 wherein the article is a book autographed by an author.

19. A system for authenticating an autographed article of memorabilia comprising:

an article to be autographed;

a unique identifying code number affixed on said article;

an autograph signed by a celebrity on said article;

a statement signed by two witnesses, attesting to their witnessing of the signing of said autograph on said article;

a certificate of authenticity containing;

a description of said article;

a time and place at which said autograph was signed;

a name of a person who signed said autograph;

identification of said two witnesses; and

an identifying code number that is different from said unique identifying code number affixed to said article;

a database containing;

a description of said article;

the information contained on said statement and on said certificate of authenticity;

the name of said celebrity;

the identifying code number affixed to said article; and

the identifying code number on said certificate of authenticity; and

identification of a person who owns said article.