Verified Mark Certificate (VMC)
A VMC is generally based on a qualifying registered trademark. The issuer validates the organisation, domain, and mark under its current programme rules.
Common Mark Certificate (CMC)
A CMC offers another evidence path for eligible marks that do not use the VMC trademark route. Issuers still apply identity, domain, and mark validation requirements.
Self-asserted BIMI
The BIMI record format permits an empty or absent a= value, but provider support for self-asserted logos is limited. A technically correct record without evidence may work with some receivers and remain invisible with others.
Publishing the evidence document
Your issuer supplies a PEM file and hosting instructions. Serve it from a stable HTTPS URL, include any required certificate chain in the expected order, then add that URL to the BIMI a= tag.
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