Have you explored BIMI but felt discouraged by the trademark requirements for your logo?
Good news—you can now bypass that hurdle!
Google revealed a significant update regarding Brand Indicators for Message Identification (BIMI). The tech giant will now allow the use of Common Mark Certificates (CMC), enabling businesses to implement BIMI in Gmail without needing a registered trademark. This change opens the door for companies of all sizes to enhance their brand visibility in inboxes without the previous trademark hurdles.
New BIMI Guidelines from Google
Previously, to utilize BIMI within Gmail, businesses had to secure a Verified Mark Certificate (VMC) linked to a trademarked logo. This process could be lengthy and costly, posing challenges for many organizations looking to adopt BIMI.
With the latest announcement, Google has simplified this requirement. Companies can now display their logos in Google mailboxes with just a Common Mark Certificate (CMC), provided their logo has been in use for at least a year.
Additionally, Google is rolling out support for BIMI on both desktop and mobile platforms, making the blue checkmark feature, previously limited to webmail, available on mobile Gmail apps for both Android and iOS users.
Choosing Between VMC and CMC
When it comes to choosing between a Verified Mark Certificate (VMC) and a Common Mark Certificate (CMC), the key difference is the trademark requirement. The CMC offers a more accessible option, allowing you to use BIMI without needing a trademark. However, this choice means your logo won’t feature Google’s blue checkmark, which is only available to VMC holders.
Here’s a quick comparison to help you decide which option suits your needs best:
| Type | Advantages | Disadvantages |
|---|---|---|
| VMC | – Displays Google’s blue checkmark | – Requires a registered trademark – Longer processing time – Potentially higher costs associated with trademarking |
| CMC | – No trademark needed – Faster and simpler to obtain – Lower cost and fewer barriers to entry |
– Lacks the Google blue checkmark |
