1. A computer implemented method to obtain a copy of an inventory from a source virtual universe to a target virtual universe comprising: receiving a user request to manipulate an inventory; determining that the inventory is not present in an inventory database coupled to the target virtual universe; responsive to a determination that the inventory is not present, looking up at least one item of the inventory in a master inventory index; receiving a reference to at least one item of the inventory from the master inventory index, wherein the master inventory index hosts references for a source virtual universe and a target virtual universe that participate in a federated access to inventory; querying the source virtual universe host based on the reference to the at least one item wherein the reference to the at least one item references the source virtual universe; and receiving the at least one item from the source virtual universe.