Product authentication system and computer implemented method

1. A computer-implemented method comprising:

receiving, at the authentication system, item information via the graphical user interface;

receiving, at the authentication system, digital images or electronic data corresponding to the item to be authenticated are received from the seller system;

receiving, at the authentication system, a payment from the seller;

sending an electronic message from the authentication system to an expert system for item authentication, wherein the expert system comprises a group of expert authenticators, wherein one or more of the expert authenticators selects the electronic message and authenticates the digital images or electronic data corresponding to the item to be authenticated to generate an opinion;

receiving an authentication opinion result electronic message at the authentication system from the expert system;

sending an electronic message containing the authentication opinion result to the seller system;

generating automatically an authentication tag including a machine-readable indicium that includes an encoded authentication system reference number that is associated with the authentication opinion result store in a database of the authentication system, wherein the encoded authentication system reference number is one of a permanent reference number or a temporary reference number, and wherein the temporary reference number is valid for a given time period after activation of the temporary reference number;

receiving an image of the item with the authentication tag affixed to the item;

storing the image of the item with the authentication tag affixed to the item in the database;

receiving a request for the authentication opinion result, wherein the request for the authentication opinion result includes a human readable identification number that corresponds to the authentication opinion results corresponding to the encoded authentication system reference number; and

in responses to receiving the request for the authentication opinion result, providing at least part of the authentication opinion result to a system from which the request for the authentication opinion result was received,

wherein the expert system comprises a group of expert authenticators, wherein one or more of the expert authenticators selects the electronic message and authenticates the digital images or electronic data corresponding to the item to be authenticated to generate an opinion.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving and storing a buyer rating and buyer feedback of the authentication opinion.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the authentication tag is valid for a predetermined duration, and wherein the predetermined duration is determined by a prespecified authentication level of service purchased by the seller.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising:

sending an electronic message from the authentication system to a buyer indicating that authentication is in progress.