Does a VMC SVG logo need to exactly match a trademarked logo?
Summary
What email marketers say11Marketer opinions
Marketer from Email Geeks says that if the background color wasn't part of the trademark description, you can change it. Also that it depends on the description of the trademark in the USPTO document
Email marketer from Twitter explains the VMC logo should be the spitting image of your trademark.
Email marketer from Entrust indicates that the Certificate Authority (CA) validates that the logo displayed is a registered trademark, and that the SVG version of the logo complies with the CA's validation guidelines
Email marketer from Comodo SSL Store shares that the logo used for a VMC must exactly match the trademarked logo on file with the appropriate trademark office. Slight variations are not permitted.
Email marketer from StackOverflow writes that based on their experience, the VMC logo should appear as close to the official trademarked logo as possible to avoid rejection during the verification process.
Email marketer from Namecheap responds that the logo in the SVG file should be the exact match of your trademarked logo.
Marketer from Email Geeks explains that for Verified Mark Certificates, the SVG logo needs to match the trademarked logo exactly, but color is usually not important unless color is specifically part of the trademark.
Email marketer from Reddit shares that the logo needs to be exactly as it is registered in the trademark office. They emphasize checking the specific requirements of the trademark authority in your region.
Marketer from Email Geeks shares that in their experience color isn’t typically in the logo mark documentation so CAs can validate the variation.
Email marketer from LinkedIn shares that you should exactly reproduce the logo as trademarked when creating the SVG version to get VMC.
Email marketer from emailmarketingforum.com shares a personal opinion that even small variations to the VMC logo compared to your trademarked logo is a gamble when CA auditors validate it.
What the experts say1Expert opinion
Expert from Spam Resource explains that to use a VMC, the logo must be a registered trademark and the SVG must visually match the registered trademark.
What the documentation says3Technical articles
Documentation from DigiCert states that to meet VMC requirements, the logo in your SVG file must exactly match the trademarked logo you registered with your trademark authority.
Documentation from GlobalSign says that for VMC validation, the registered trademark image must match the SVG logo submitted.
Documentation from Sectigo explains that one of the requirements for VMCs is that your logo must be a registered trademark with a government trademark authority.