What are the differences between CMC and VMC certificates, including cost and requirements?

Email marketer from Agari emphasizes that VMC certification requires the use of a registered trademark logo. Without a legally registered trademark, it's not possible to obtain a VMC, making trademark registration a fundamental requirement.

Marketer from Email Geeks shares documentation from Digicert clarifying the whole Certificate creation process: <https://docs.digicert.com/en/certcentral/manage-certificates/verified-mark-certificates--vmc-/common-mark-certificate--cmc-.html>

Marketer from Email Geeks suggests Digicert *might* be offering CMCs, but calling them “Digicert Mark Certificates” - <https://www.digicert.com/tls-ssl/verified-mark-certificates>. The description of the “Digicert Mark Certificate” on that page walks and talks a lot like a CMC.

Email marketer from EmailVendorSelection shares that CMC implementation is generally faster because it doesn't always require trademark verification. This reduces the administrative overhead and speeds up the deployment process.

Email marketer from Entrust explains that VMCs offer enhanced brand visibility within email inboxes, particularly Gmail, as it allows brand logos to be displayed next to email messages. This increased visibility helps to boost brand recognition and improve email engagement rates.

Email marketer from Red Sift shares that the cost of obtaining a VMC can vary significantly depending on the certification authority and the region. It includes the cost of trademark verification, which may involve legal fees, along with the annual certificate fee.

Marketer from Email Geeks shares that the verification processes for CMCs and VMCs are documented in sections 3.2.16 and 3.2.17, respectively, of the “Minimum Security Requirements for Issuance of Mark Certificates” document found here - <https://bimigroup.org/resources/VMC_Requirements_latest.pdf|https://bimigroup.org/resources/VMC_Requirements_latest.pdf>

Marketer from Email Geeks shares that you can now purchase a CMC certificate from DigiCert for 1,100 euros/year (vs 1,400 euros for a VMC): <https://www.digicert.com/tls-ssl/compare-mark-certificates>

Email marketer from Stack Overflow states that the logo needs to be an SVG (Scalable Vector Graphics) file, as BIMI requires logos to be in this format. This ensures logos are displayed correctly across various screen sizes and resolutions.

Email marketer from Validity notes that while CMC adoption is growing, it's not yet universally recognized across all email platforms. VMC offers wider compatibility and is more readily supported by major email providers, making it a more robust option for broad brand visibility.

Email marketer from Reddit shares that VMC prices vary, but expect to pay between $1,000 to $1,500 per year, depending on the vendor. Some also charge extra for the trademark validation process.

Email marketer from Email Geeks explains that CMC certificates are relatively new and have limited adoption currently, with Gmail being the primary supporter. This limits its immediate widespread effectiveness compared to VMC.

Expert from Spam Resource explains the newly announced CMC's (Certified Mark Certificates). They are like VMCs but for Gmail. There are questions around how close the graphic or mark needs to be to pass verification.

Expert from Email Geeks shares that getting a CMC (Common Mark Certificate) is probably quicker and cheaper if you don’t have trademark/servicemark paperwork. Currently it is Gmail-only.

Documentation from Google Support mentions that Gmail supports CMC for displaying brand logos in the inbox, provided the sender meets certain authentication standards. They support it when the organisation authenticates email using SPF, DKIM and DMARC.

Documentation from BIMI Group specifies that VMCs require trademark validation by an authorized certification authority, ensuring the logo displayed is legally owned and protected. This process involves verifying the trademark registration with the relevant intellectual property office and confirming the applicant's right to use the logo.

Documentation from BIMI Group indicates that future versions of the BIMI standard may require stronger authentication measures, which could impact both CMC and VMC requirements. Continuous monitoring of BIMI updates is essential to stay compliant.

Documentation from DigiCert outlines that both CMC (Common Mark Certificate) and VMC (Verified Mark Certificate) require domain verification. For VMC, trademark verification is essential, whereas CMC currently doesn't enforce strict trademark validation, resulting in quicker issuance.

Documentation from DigiCert shares that the CMC certificate purchase process can be started from their website for around 1,100 euros/year, as opposed to the VMC at 1,400 euros/year.