VMC and CMC Certificates - Eligibility Requirements

Before applying for a Verified Mark Certificate (VMC) or Common Mark Certificate (CMC), organizations must meet specific eligibility criteria. These requirements help ensure that organizations displaying their logos in email clients via the BIMI standard have verified identities and domain control, providing an added layer of trust and authenticity beyond basic profile images. 

This article outlines the types of organizations eligible for VMC/CMC certificates and the key validation checks performed during the application process.

 

Eligible Legal Entity Types

Only certain types of organizations are eligible to apply for VMC or CMC certificates. These include:

Private Organizations

• Incorporated entities such as LLC, Ltd, GmbH, OOO, SL, Sp. z o.o., etc.
• Must be legally registered and in good standing.

Government Entities

• Departments, ministries, or agencies of national, regional, or local governments.
• Includes public/state schools and other official bodies.

Business Entities

• Non-incorporated businesses registered with a government agency.
• Some sole proprietors may qualify if officially registered.

Non-Commercial Entities

• International organizations not tied to a single country (e.g., United Nations, NATO).

Domain Ownership and Control

Applicants must demonstrate control over the domain(s) to be included in the certificate. This is verified through Domain Control Validation (DCV), which may include:

• Email-based validation
• DNS record validation (CNAME)
• HTTP file upload

Note: DNS TXT random value or domain tree walk-up for CNAME validation is not supported for VMC/CMC products.

Trademark or Mark Usage Requirements

For VMC (Verified Mark Certificate):

• The logo must be a Registered Mark with a recognized Trademark Office; without a valid trademark, only a CMC could be eligible.
• The trademark must be in good standing and not expire within 397 days of issuance.
• The logo must be submitted in SVG format and match the trademark record exactly.

For CMC (Common Mark Certificate):

• The logo must be a Prior Use Mark:
• Currently displayed on the applicant’s website.
• Proven to have been in use for at least 12 months (verified via archive.org).
• Domain control must be established for the domain displaying the mark.

Reliable Communication Channel

Validation will search for public and verifiable method of communication, such as:

• A business phone number
• A corporate email address
• A physical mailing address

This information must be validated using trusted sources or professional letters.

Operational Existence

Applicants must prove they are actively operating. This can be demonstrated by:

• Business registration records showing 3+ years of activity
• Listings in qualified business directories
• A professional letter confirming operational status