A CMC is a lower-tier BIMI certificate introduced in 2024 for brands without a registered trademark. Eligibility requires 12 months of prior logo use or a government-issued mark. Gmail displays the logo but not the blue checkmark.
What good looks like#
- Done: Document at least 12 months of logo use (Wayback Machine snapshots, marketing materials).
- Done: Prepare the logo as SVG Tiny PS.
- Done: Complete organization validation with DigiCert or Entrust.
- Done: Publish the certificate URL in the a= tag of your BIMI record.
What bad looks like#
- Seen in audits: Expecting the blue checkmark; CMC does not qualify.
- Seen in audits: Changing the logo after issuance, which invalidates the certificate.
How to move from bad to good#
Work through the good list in order and re-verify after each change. Most teams find one or two items from the bad list already present; fixing those usually produces the largest improvement.
Frequently asked questions#
Which providers accept CMC?
Gmail accepts CMC as of 2024. Apple accepts VMC and CMC. Yahoo does not require a certificate.
Can I upgrade from CMC to VMC?
Yes, once the trademark registers. Reissue the certificate and update the a= tag.