Abstract: A method for deterring the manufacture, sale or distribution of counterfeit consumer goods is disclosed. Periodically-updated indicia of authenticity of products are provided to the consumer of the product. These periodic updates occur with sufficient frequency to deter counterfeiters and purchasers of counterfeit products in that it will be readily apparent that the goods are counterfeit. Furthermore, the method of this invention is significantly less expensive to implement than prior art methods.

Abstract: A system for recordkeeping, comprising assigning a bar code label to material to be processed including information identifying the material and successively moving the material into a plurality of processing stations. At each station the bar code label is read, a second bar code label including information relating to a processing operation is assigned to the material, the second bar code label is read, a processing operation is performed in accordance with the second bar code label and a third bar code label is assigned to the material including information corresponding to results of the processing operation. The information from the first, second and third labels are stored in a main storage device.