What UK GDPR and PECR requires#
PECR governs electronic marketing; the soft opt-in applies only to existing customers for similar products.
What Verified Mark Certificates (VMC) is#
A VMC is an X.509 certificate issued by an approved authority (DigiCert or Entrust) that binds a registered trademark logo to a domain. Gmail and Apple Mail require a VMC or CMC to render a BIMI logo.
Why it matters#
The VMC is the trust anchor: it proves the logo belongs to the trademark holder, preventing brand impersonation in the inbox.
How Verified Mark Certificates (VMC) supports UK GDPR and PECR compliance#
Regulators and recipients need to identify who sent a message and trust that opt-out mechanisms work. Verified Mark Certificates (VMC) contributes by the VMC is the trust anchor: it proves the logo belongs to the trademark holder, preventing brand impersonation in the inbox.
Implementation steps#
- Confirm your logo is a registered trademark in an accepted jurisdiction (USPTO, EUIPO, UKIPO, JPO, and others).
- Prepare the exact trademarked artwork as SVG Tiny PS.
- Complete organization validation with the CA, including notarized identity verification.
- Receive the PEM certificate, host it over HTTPS, and reference it in the a= tag of your BIMI record.
- Calendar the renewal; VMCs are valid for one year.
Frequently asked questions#
How much does a VMC cost?
Roughly $1,000 to $1,500 per year per logo, depending on the CA.
How long does issuance take?
Typically 2 to 6 weeks, mostly spent on organization and trademark validation.
Do I need one VMC per domain?
One VMC can cover multiple domains using SANs, if they share the same trademark.