Common Mark Certificate (CMC)
Display your brand logo in email inboxes without a registered trademark. CMC makes BIMI accessible to every organization — from startups to nonprofits to growing brands.
What Is a Common Mark Certificate?
A Common Mark Certificate (CMC) is a digital certificate that verifies your organization's identity and associates it with your brand logo for the BIMI email standard. Unlike a VMC, a CMC does not require a registered trademark — making it the accessible entry point for BIMI.
CMC validates your organization through standard identity verification (similar to an OV SSL certificate) rather than trademark verification. This means startups, nonprofits, educational institutions, and small businesses can all participate in BIMI without the cost and time of trademark registration.
Who Is CMC For?
CMC is ideal for organizations that want BIMI brand visibility but don't yet have a registered trademark.
Startups
New companies building brand recognition before trademark registration.
Nonprofits
Organizations that may not invest in trademark protection but need email trust.
Small Businesses
Local and regional businesses sending transactional and marketing emails.
Education
Universities and schools protecting student and parent communications.
CMC Certificate Benefits
No Trademark Needed
Get BIMI logo display without the cost and time of trademark registration. Standard identity verification is all you need.
Improve Email Engagement
Brand logos in inboxes increase recognition and trust, leading to better open and click-through rates.
Strengthen Email Security
CMC requires DMARC enforcement, which blocks spoofing and phishing — protecting your brand and recipients.
Build Brand Visibility
Your logo appears alongside every email, reinforcing brand presence even before messages are opened.
Pathway to VMC
Start with CMC today and upgrade to VMC when your trademark is registered for broader inbox support.
Growing Support
CMC support is expanding across email clients. Early adoption positions your brand for full BIMI coverage as it scales.
Current CMC Support
CMC support is more limited than VMC currently, but the standard is actively expanding. Early adopters are positioned for immediate benefit as new providers enable CMC logo display.
How CMC helps your brand
Get BIMI logo display without a registered trademark — ideal for startups, nonprofits, and growing brands.
No trademark required
Organization validation is enough to get started with CMC.
Faster path to BIMI
Skip trademark wait times and put your logo in supported inboxes.
Upgrade path to VMC
Move to VMC later when your trademark is registered.
DMARC-ready foundation
Built on enforced DMARC so authentication comes first.
Typical turnaround
1–2 business days
organization verification only
Get your CMC certificate
No trademark required. Tell us about your organization to get started.
CMC vs VMC — Quick Comparison
| Feature | CMC | VMC |
|---|---|---|
| Trademark Required | No ✓ | Yes |
| Gmail Support | Beta | Full ✓ |
| Apple Mail Support | Coming Soon | Full ✓ |
| Validation Level | Organization | Identity + Trademark |
| Ideal For | Startups, Nonprofits | Established Brands |
| Price Range | Lower | Higher |
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a trademark for a CMC?
Which email clients support CMC logos?
Can I upgrade to a VMC later?
How is CMC validation different from VMC?
What does a CMC cost?
How long does CMC validation take?
Start displaying your brand in email inboxes
No trademark required. Get your Common Mark Certificate and make your emails instantly recognizable.