Common Mark Certificates (CMCs) allow eligible organizations to display their brand logo in supported email clients through Brand Indicators for Message Identification (BIMI). Unlike a Verified Mark Certificate, a CMC does not require a registered trademark: the logo qualifies through documented prior use or through DigiCert's modified registered trademark rules.
In Gmail the logo is displayed without the blue checkmark that is associated with VMCs. The sending domain must publish a DMARC record with an enforcement policy of p=quarantine or p=reject, and the logo must be an SVG that meets the BIMI SVG Tiny Portable/Secure profile. Read our VMC vs CMC guide and the validation requirements before ordering.
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No registered trademark needed
A CMC does not require a registered trademark. Provide evidence that your logo has been used for at least 12 months, or documentation showing that it qualifies under DigiCert's modified registered trademark rules. The exact documents requested may vary depending on your organization and the results of the validation checks.
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Business validation
Your organization must complete the required Extended Validation (EV)-level checks, and an authorized individual completes the identity verification and organizational approval. See the VMC and CMC validation requirements.
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DMARC and BIMI
The sending domain needs a DMARC record with an enforcement policy of p=quarantine or p=reject, with SPF and DKIM configured and aligned. BIMI does not guarantee that the logo appears in every inbox, as display depends on the email provider.
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CMC or VMC?
Choose a VMC if you have a qualifying registered trademark and want the Gmail blue checkmark. A CMC suits logos that qualify through prior use or modified trademark rules. Our VMC vs CMC guide explains the differences.
