What Is Upper Deck Authenticated?

Upper Deck began offering sports cards in 1988 and began offering autographed sports memorabilia in 1992 through its Upper Deck Authenticated line. Upper Deck addressed autograph forgery by incorporating an authentication process that was the first of its kind in the sports collectible industry.

Autographed Merchandise

Upper Deck offers autographed products such as framed photographs, plaques and balls. UDA merchandise is available for all major sports, and athletes such as LeBron James, Peyton Manning and Tiger Woods participate in the program. A UDA representative witnesses the athlete signing his autograph to ensure authenticity.

Additional Authenticity Safeguards

Upper Deck affixes a hologram to all UDA merchandise to thwart counterfeiters, and each product is accompanied by a certificate of authenticity with a matching hologram. Upper Deck also provides a registration card with all UDA memorabilia so if the piece changes hands, its new owner can use the registration information to verify the item's authenticity with Upper Deck.

Collaboration With Retailers

Upper Deck and its distribution affiliates help retailers choose products most likely to appeal to their customers' interests. Upper Deck also sponsors an online affiliate program, providing UDA advertising material to webmasters and giving them commissions on every sale.

References

• Upper Deck: Signed Memorabilia --- Guaranteed Authentic
• Upper Deck: Business to Business --- Product Portfolio / UDA Memorabilia
• Upper Deck: Upper Deck Authenticated Affiliate Program

Resources

• Spectrum Sports Collectibles: Fraud, Forgery, Fakes and Market Value Information