Abstract: A method of virtual patent marking an article that is patented by a patent, includes preparing an in-house document that includes an indicator of the article, the number of the patent in association with the indicator, and other information related to the article. An address on the Internet together with at least one of the word “patent” and the abbreviation “pat.” is fixed on at least one of the article and a label that is fixed to at least one of the article or on a package of the article. A posting is created by carving out an integral section of the in-house document away from the other information. The integral section includes the indicator of the article and the number of the patent in association with the indicator. The posting is then set up at the address on the Internet.