When registering for BIMI with Gmail, why can I only select one territory for my trademark details?

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
8Marketer 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.

December 2022 - 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.

February 2023 - StackExchange
Marketer view

Email marketer from Email Marketing Forum explains that the limitation stems from the need to tie the VMC to a specific legal jurisdiction for trademark enforcement purposes. It is linked with where the trademark office validated the logo.

September 2021 - Email Marketing Forum
Marketer view

Email marketer from EmailAuth.Guru Forum suggests that the single territory selection is related to how trademark validation is handled. Each certification authority needs to validate the trademark within a specific legal jurisdiction, so you pick the territory most relevant to your email campaigns.

September 2023 - EmailAuth.Guru Forum
Marketer view

Email marketer from EmailGeeks Community suggests contacting the VMC provider for clarification on the best jurisdiction to use if your trademark is registered in multiple regions, but defaulting to HQ region.

June 2021 - EmailGeeks Community
Marketer view

Email marketer from Quora explains that you can select only one territory because the VMC is a digital certificate that verifies your legal right to use the logo in that specific region. Select the territory that matters most for email campaigns.

September 2021 - Quora
Marketer view

Email marketer from Email Marketing Subreddit shares that if your trademark is registered in multiple countries, select the country where the majority of your customers are located or where your headquarters are situated for the VMC application.

August 2022 - Email Marketing Subreddit
Marketer view

Email marketer from Reddit explains that VMCs are issued on a jurisdiction basis. Therefore, the VMC needs to match one of the jurisdictions for which the trademark is registered.

April 2021 - Reddit

What the experts say
2Expert 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.

September 2023 - 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.

January 2025 - Word to the Wise

What the documentation says
3Technical 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.

April 2024 - 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.

November 2022 - DigiCert Website
Technical article

Documentation from Entrust.com specifies that the VMC must be issued by an approved certification authority for the jurisdiction where the trademark is registered. This inherently limits the selection to one territory.

August 2021 - Entrust.com