Summary
The single territory selection for trademark details during BIMI registration with Gmail is necessitated by the territorial nature of trademark law and the validation process for VMCs (Verified Mark Certificates). VMCs serve as digital certificates verifying your legal right to use a logo within a specific jurisdiction. Certification authorities, guided by organizations like Entrust, DigiCert, and the BIMI Group, must validate trademarks against specific country trademark offices, operating within defined territories. This ensures legal compliance and prevents fraudulent logo usage. While choosing a territory, consider selecting the location of your headquarters, the region with the majority of your customers, or consulting with your VMC provider for tailored advice. Matching the VMC jurisdiction to the trademark's is key for validity and enforcement.
Key findings
- Territorial Trademark Law: Trademark rights are territorial, requiring validation within specific legal boundaries.
- VMC as Digital Certificate: A VMC verifies the legal right to use a logo in a particular region.
- Jurisdiction-Specific Validation: Certification authorities validate trademarks against trademark offices within specific countries or regions.
Key considerations
- Match VMC to Trademark Jurisdiction: Ensure the VMC jurisdiction aligns with the territory where your trademark is registered and enforced.
- Consider HQ or Customer Base Location: If your trademark is registered in multiple territories, prioritize the location of your headquarters or your primary customer base.
- Consult with VMC Provider: Seek clarification from your VMC provider on the optimal jurisdiction for your specific circumstances.
What email marketers say
8 marketer opinions
When registering for BIMI with Gmail, the requirement to select only one territory for trademark details when applying for a VMC (Verified Mark Certificate) stems from the territorial nature of trademark rights and the validation process. VMCs are issued on a jurisdiction basis to verify that the applicant legally owns the logo within that specific region. Certification authorities validate the trademark against a specific country's trademark office for legal compliance and to prevent fraudulent use. While you can often choose the jurisdiction for which to apply, it's generally recommended to select the territory where your headquarters are located or where the majority of your customers reside. Contacting the VMC provider may offer clarification for unique situations.
Key opinions
- Territorial Rights: Trademark rights are territorial, requiring VMCs to be jurisdiction-specific.
- Validation Process: Certification authorities validate trademarks against specific country trademark offices.
- Fraud Prevention: Matching the VMC jurisdiction to the trademark's jurisdiction ensures legal validity and prevents fraudulent logo use.
Key considerations
- HQ Location: Choosing the jurisdiction where your headquarters is located is often recommended.
- Customer Base: Selecting the territory where the majority of your customers are located can be a strategic choice.
- VMC Provider: Consulting with the VMC provider can offer tailored guidance for your specific circumstances.
Marketer view
Marketer from Email Geeks explains that you only need to choose one jurisdiction for VMC so they can verify you own the logo. They suggest choosing the jurisdiction of your HQ, but confirm you can choose any.
16 Aug 2024 - Email Geeks
Marketer view
Email marketer from StackExchange indicates that the trademark jurisdiction must match the VMC jurisdiction to ensure legal validity and prevent fraudulent use of logos in email marketing.
25 Mar 2023 - StackExchange
What the experts say
2 expert opinions
The limitation of selecting only one territory for trademark details when registering for BIMI with Gmail is due to the territorial nature of trademark rights and the legal requirements for validation. A Verified Mark Certificate (VMC) confirms your right to use the logo within a specific jurisdiction, necessitating a match between the VMC and the trademark registration territory for proper enforcement and verification.
Key opinions
- Territorial Trademark Rights: Trademark rights are generally territorial, requiring verification within a single legal jurisdiction.
- VMC and Legal Jurisdiction: The VMC process is tied to the specific legal jurisdiction where the trademark is registered and enforced.
- Validation Requirement: Selecting a single territory that matches the trademark registration ensures proper validation of logo usage rights.
Key considerations
- Match Territory: Ensure the selected territory for the VMC matches the territory of your trademark registration.
- Legal Enforcement: Consider the jurisdiction where you most actively enforce your trademark rights.
- Proper Validation: Choosing the correct territory is crucial for proper validation and legal use of your logo.
Expert view
Expert from Spam Resource explains that the VMC process is tied to the legal jurisdiction where the trademark is registered and enforced. Therefore, you must select a single territory that matches your trademark registration to ensure proper validation.
19 Jul 2022 - Spam Resource
Expert view
Expert from Word to the Wise Staff explains that the single territory limitation is because trademark rights are generally territorial. A VMC verifies that you have the right to use the logo in a specific jurisdiction, necessitating the selection of a single territory.
2 May 2025 - Word to the Wise
What the documentation says
3 technical articles
The restriction to selecting only one territory for trademark details during BIMI registration with Gmail arises from the jurisdiction-specific nature of VMCs (Verified Mark Certificates). Certification authorities, like Entrust and DigiCert, validate trademarks against a specific country's trademark office to ensure legal compliance. The BIMI Group also highlights that VMC verification requires interaction with a trademark registry that operates within a defined territory. This inherently limits the VMC to a single territory matching the trademark's registration.
Key findings
- Jurisdiction Specific VMCs: VMCs are inherently jurisdiction-specific.
- Trademark Office Validation: Certification authorities validate trademarks against a specific country's trademark office.
- Defined Territory Registries: Trademark registries operate within defined territories, limiting the scope of VMC verification.
Key considerations
- Trademark Registration Territory: Ensure the selected territory aligns with the territory where your trademark is registered.
- Legal Compliance: Understand the legal compliance requirements of the chosen territory.
- Certification Authority Requirements: Be aware of the specific requirements set by the certification authority for the selected jurisdiction.
Technical article
Documentation from BIMI Group Website highlights that the VMC process requires verification against a specific trademark registry. Each registry operates within a defined territory, hence the limitation to a single territory.
3 Jan 2023 - BIMI Group Website
Technical article
Documentation from DigiCert Website indicates that VMCs are jurisdiction-specific because the certificate authority validates the trademark against a particular country's trademark office. This ensures legal compliance and accurate verification.
8 May 2022 - DigiCert Website
Do I need a trademark in every country for BIMI?
Do I need a VMC for BIMI to work with Google and Gmail?
How can I check if a domain uses Entrust or Digicert for BIMI, and should I avoid Entrust?
How do I display my logo in email inboxes, particularly Gmail, and what are the BIMI requirements?
How do I implement BIMI and get my logo to show in Gmail and Yahoo Mail?
How do I set up BIMI? Is a VMC certificate always required?
