A blockchain-based authentication process for a wine cork or other sealing method to guarantee the product or its contents.

Abstract

The present invention is characterized by a method for timestamping and authenticating a bottle of wine, including its contents, using its cork or other sealing method, on the blockchain. This applies to food products and, by extension, to medical, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic products. The tool, customized according to the method specific to the invention, is intended for professionals in the food service industry and individuals, as well as for the agri-food industry and producers of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages.

Description

Title of the invention: Method for authenticating a wine cork or other means of sealing on the blockchain to guarantee the product or contents.

[0001] The present invention is characterized by a method for timestamping and authenticating a bottle of wine, including its contents, on the blockchain, by means of its cork or other sealing method, for a food product and, by extension, for a medical, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic product. The tool, thus customized according to the method specific to the invention, is intended for professionals in the food service industry and individuals, as well as for the agri-food industry and producers of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages.

[0002] The advantage of such a process allows for individual or series personalization and does not require excessive investment for the production of a personalized print of authenticity and guarantee of content by the application of identification means previously time-stamped and recorded on the blockchain, the control of which will allow the manufacturer and customs agents to certify that it is an authentic and not counterfeit product.

[0003] It is true that numerous personalization processes exist today to guarantee the origin of the product, the product itself, and the know-how. However, counterfeiters continue to exploit the producers and manufacturers mentioned above. Producers and manufacturers are redoubling their efforts to protect and secure products. For example, they are working to give the bottle a particular shape, and then increasingly specialized labels with the addition of 3D or holographic printing. They are also affixing tamper-evident seals. This does not prevent counterfeiters from persisting in unfair and parasitic competition to the detriment of the brand and the consumer.

[0004] Counterfeiters often manage to counterfeit protective devices to guarantee the contents of the product, particularly when it comes to still or sparkling wine or any other beverages.

[0005] These different techniques currently offer only intermediate solutions but not a true principle guaranteeing the authenticity of the content in relation to the purchased product.

[0006] The design, development and manufacture according to the present invention of a blockchain authentication method for a wine cork or other means of closure and its advantages will become clearer in the description below which illustrates the present invention.

[0007] The blockchain-based time-stamping and authentication process for a bottle of wine, including its contents, by means of its cork or other sealing method, is characterized by the permanent imprinting on at least one face of the cork, agglomerated cork, or synthetic stopper of a serial number and / or a QR code, a brand and / or a trade name and / or a logo before bottling. This imprinting is then anchored to the blockchain, which generates a non-fungible token and a certificate in a database. Scanning the QR code will then automatically link to the producer's blockchain certificate to verify the authenticity of the contents.

[0008] The process according to the invention will provide greater security and guarantee. Indeed, only the producer holds the databases and the anchoring certificates on the blockchain. Consequently, it will be significantly more difficult for counterfeiters and imposters to pass themselves off as producers or manufacturers of an original and authentic product.

[0009] According to a variant of the invention, the marking and printing process can be carried out on closure caps or stoppers on the external surface and / or on the internal surface of a technical cap.

[0010] Another variant consists of affixing by printing on the cap of the bottle a serial number and / or a QR code previously time-stamped and anchored on the blockchain.

[0011] All certificates generated by the blockchain are managed by a database which allows instant verification of the product's authenticity via an application using the QR code specific to each bottle. It is perfectly understandable that the QR code, or any other markings, can be affixed simultaneously to the cap and capsule, or to the cap and bottle.

[0012] According to another embodiment of the invention, the QR code is directly laser-engraved onto the inner surface of the container, for example a bottle, or onto its outer surface. This feature prevents the code from being falsified and allows it to be verified by scanning the bottle.

[0013] This written description uses examples to disclose embodiments of the invention and also to enable any person skilled in the art to carry out embodiments of the invention, including the manufacture and use of any device or system and the performance of any incorporated process. The patentable scope of the invention is defined by the claims and may include other examples that are apparent to a person skilled in the art. These other examples are intended to fall within the scope of the claims if they have structural elements that do not differ from the literal language of the claims, or if they include equivalent structural elements with non-substantial differences from the literal language of the claims.

[0014] Of course, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments or fields of activity previously described.

Claims

Demands

1. A method for timestamping and authenticating a bottle of wine, including its contents, by means of its cork or other means of closure, on the blockchain, characterized by a permanent imprint on at least one face of the cork, agglomerated or synthetic stopper of a serial number and / or a QR code, a brand and / or a trade name and / or a logo before bottling, then anchored beforehand on the blockchain which will produce a non-fungible token and a certificate managed by a database and the possibility of scanning the QR code which will automatically refer to the producer's blockchain certificate in order to attest to the authenticity of the contents.

2. A method for timestamping and authenticating a bottle of wine, including its contents, by means of its cork or other means of closure according to claim 1, is characterized in that the printing of the serial number and / or the QR code is previously timestamped and anchored on the blockchain and then affixed to the cap of the bottle.

3. A method for timestamping and authenticating a bottle of wine, including its contents, by means of its cork or other means of closure according to claim 1, is characterized in that the QR code can simultaneously be affixed to the cork and the capsule or to the cork and the bottle.

4. A method for timestamping and authenticating a bottle of wine, including its contents, by means of its cork or other means of closure according to the preceding claims, is characterized in that the QR code on the cork and / or on the bottle via an application displays the certificate of authenticity from the blockchain database.

5. A method for timestamping and authenticating on the blockchain of a bottle of wine, including its contents, by means of its cork or other means of closure according to claim 4, is characterized in that the QR code is directly laser-engraved on the internal surface of the container or on its external surface.