Navigating Trademark Requirements: International vs. Regional Considerations for VMC

A Verified Mark Certificate (VMC) requires your logo to be a registered trademark with a recognized intellectual property office. This ensures that only legitimate brand owners can display their logos in email clients, protecting against spoofing and unauthorized use.

• International Trademarks: While some organizations register trademarks through international systems like the WIPO Madrid System, VMC eligibility requires your logo to be registered with a trademark office specifically recognized by VMC guidelines—not just any international office.
• Regional Trademarks: Regional trademark offices such as the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) or the Benelux Office for Intellectual Property (BOIP) are recognized for VMC purposes. Trademarks registered with these offices are valid for VMC, even if your business operates in multiple countries within the region.
• National Trademarks: Many national trademark offices are also accepted for VMC validation, including the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), UK Intellectual Property Office, and Japan Trademark Office.

• United States: USPTO
• Canada: Canadian Intellectual Property Office
• European Union: EUIPO
• United Kingdom: UK Intellectual Property Office
• Germany: Deutsches Patent- und Markenamt
• Japan: Japan Trademark Office
• Spain: Spanish Patent and Trademark Office
• Australia: IP Australia
• India: Intellectual Property India
• South Korea: Korean Intellectual Property Office
• Brazil: Instituto Nacional da Propriedade Industrial
• France: French Patent and Trademark Office (INPI)
• Benelux: Benelux Office for Intellectual Property (BOIP)
• Denmark: Danish Patent and Trademark Office
• Sweden: Swedish Intellectual Property Office
• Switzerland: Swiss Federal Institute of Intellectual Property
• New Zealand: Intellectual Property Office of New Zealand

Note: If your trademark is registered with any of these offices, it is eligible for VMC, regardless of your business’s home country. This list is updated as more offices are recognized.

• Jurisdiction Matters: Only trademarks registered with recognized offices are valid for VMC. A trademark registered in a non-listed country or with a non-recognized office will not qualify, even if it is valid locally.
• Regional Coverage: Registering with a regional office (e.g., EUIPO) can provide broader coverage and VMC eligibility across multiple countries in that region.
• Trademark Consistency: The logo submitted for VMC must match the trademark registration exactly—any variation can result in rejection.
• Government Marks: Government agencies may use official seals or marks protected by legislation rather than traditional trademark registration. VMC guidelines allow for these cases with proper documentation.

• Logo is registered as a trademark with a recognized office: Ensure your logo is registered with an officially recognized trademark office (see list above).
• Trademark registration is active and valid: Confirm that your trademark registration is current and in good standing.
• Logo submitted for VMC matches the registered trademark exactly: The logo you submit for your VMC must be identical to the one registered as a trademark.
• Documentation is available for verification by the Certificate Authority: Be prepared to provide trademark registration documents for review by the Certificate Authority.

Find more answers in our VMC and BIMI FAQ section.

To qualify for a VMC, your logo must be a registered trademark with a recognized intellectual property office—check the latest list to ensure your registration is eligible.