A system for and method for authenticating items.

摘要

A system ( 10 ) is disclosed for authenticating an item ( 12 ), the item ( 12 ) being associated with an event or associated with one or more participants ( 70 ) in the event. The system ( 10 ) comprises first identification means ( 14 ) incorporated into an item ( 12 ) prior to an event, the first identification means ( 14 ) having an associated unique identifier, a database ( 22 ) for storing an item record including information indicative of the unique identifier and information indicative of the item ( 12 ), and detecting means ( 20 ) for authenticating that the item ( 12 ) has been used at the event by detecting the first identification means ( 14 ) and recognising the unique identifier during the event whilst the item ( 12 ) is being used. The arrangement is such that the item record is updated so as to include information indicative of the event in which the item ( 12 ) has been used when the item ( 12 ) has been detected by the detecting means ( 20 ). A corresponding method is also disclosed.