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  2. Email Trust
  3. What is a Verified Mark Certificate (VMC)?
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EMAIL TRUST

What is a Verified
Mark Certificate (VMC)?

What is a Verified Mark Certificate (VMC)?

A Verified Mark Certificate, abbreviated VMC, is a special kind of digital certificate that allows organizations and individuals to display a trademarked logo in recipients' email inboxes next to the sender field.

A VMC is the last step in a chain of security and identity measures related to DMARC adoption. To acquire a VMC, the purchaser must demonstrate that their logo is legally trademarked with an approved trademarking body or granted by government decree, authenticate the physical identity of the purchaser through an in-person validation meeting, and confirm ownership of the email domain to which the VMC is issued. For logos that are not protected by a trademark or government action, see Common Mark Certificate.

VMCs are only displayed for senders that are maintaining enforcement of DMARC (Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting and Conformance) policies and that have a BIMI record in their DNS. Companies are adopting DMARC with enforcement as a means of combatting unauthorized use (read: spoofing) of email domains, in order to protect both organization and recipients of that organization’s emails from identity-targeted attacks like spoofing and phishing.

VMCs enable the displayed logo to function as a visual identifier of an organization’s secure, validated identity and that the organization has adopted DMARC with enforcement.

How do I get a Verified Mark Certificate (VMC)?

In order to get a VMC, organizations must go through a series of validation procedures similar to getting an EV SSL certificate. During the process, an individual’s identity validation is required as well as face-to-face confirmation by a notary, lawyer or via a video call directly with a member of ¶ºÒõ¹Ý’s validation team. ¶ºÒõ¹Ý’s validation team will also have a video call with the applicant where they hold their ID in front of the camera. Finally, ¶ºÒõ¹Ý must also validate that your logo is officially and legally trademarked and formatted correctly.

Learn more on the ¶ºÒõ¹Ý Blog.

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