A system and method for publishing information about items and allowing internet shopping within virtual worlds. A server based application for internet commerce has been designed to integrate with virtual world servers and the client programs that work with the virtual world servers. For example, a consumer within a virtual world may approach a billboard that will allow the user to interact with a real internet-based marketplace that is available in the real world. Both real world and virtual world items may be purchased from the internet-based marketplace after locating a desired item within the virtual world.