Mastercard Incorporated
Authentication of goods

Abstract:

A method for a goods manager to authenticate products at the point of sale is provided. The method comprises: providing an authentication device to a merchant, wherein the authentication device is not associated with a product but is configured to receive product information from a merchant terminal; once information about a product has been received by the authentication device from the merchant terminal, obtaining from the authentication device a signed message comprising information about the authentication device and information about the product received from the merchant terminal; and providing authorization data to the authentication device if the information fulfils one or more criteria, thereby associating the authentication device with the product. A method for a merchant to authenticate goods at the point of sale and a merchant terminal to perform such a method are also provided.