Trademark Registration For Gmail Authenticated Brand Logos

Gmail Authenticated Brand Logos is a service provided by Google that allows businesses and organizations to authenticate their emails and display their logo next to the email address in the recipient’s inbox.

To use the service, you will need to apply through the Google Workspace Marketplace and provide information about your brand and upload your logo. Once your application is approved, your logo will be added to the Gmail authentication process, helping to increase trust in emails sent from your domain.

Gmail Authenticated Brand Logos work by using email authentication protocols such as Sender Policy Framework (SPF) and Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting & Conformance (DMARC) to verify that an email is coming from an authorized sender and that the email address and logo are legitimate. This helps to reduce spam and phishing attempts and protect your brand’s reputation.

Additionally, you can apply for a Verified Mark Certificate (VMC) which is an extra layer of trust and legitimacy for your brand by showing that the email is coming from a verified source. This will display a verified mark certificate next to the logo in the email header.

Businesses that authenticate their emails using Sender Policy Framework (SPF) or Domain Keys Identified Mail (DKIM) and deploy DMARC can provide their validated trademarked logos to Google via a Verified Mark Certificate (VMC).

A VMC is a certificate that can be obtained from a VMC provider (like DigiCert, GlobalSign, Comodo, Entrust) and it’s used to authenticate a brand’s logo. It contains information about the logo, the domain it belongs to and information about the issuer. By providing a VMC to Google, an organization can add an additional layer of security and trust to their email communications and help users to quickly identify legitimate emails from trusted brands.

By utilizing SPF, DKIM and DMARC, the organization can ensure that their emails are properly authenticated, which is a requirement for obtaining a VMC and for displaying the logo in the email headers. DMARC allows the organization to publish a policy that tells email receivers what to do with messages that fail either SPF or DKIM authentication. SPF is a protocol that allows you to specify which mail servers are authorized to send mail on behalf of your domain. DKIM is a method of email authentication that allows the person receiving the email to check that it was actually sent by the domain it claims to be sent from, and that it hasn’t been modified during transit.

It’s important to note that VMC is not mandatory for displaying logos in email headers, but it does provide an added layer of security and trust.

What Is A Verified Mark Certificate (VMC)?

A VMC is a type of digital certificate that is issued by a certificate authority to verify logo ownership. This certificate verifies the authenticity of the registered trademark, and it confirms that the logo belongs to the person or organization that holds the active trademark registration. It serves as official proof of ownership and can be used to protect the logo from infringement or unauthorized use. The VMC typically contains information such as the logo image, the date of registration, and the trademark registration number.

How Do You Qualify For A VMC?

To qualify for a Verified Mark Certificate (VMC), an individual or organization must first register their trademark with the relevant trademark office. This typically involves submitting an application that includes information such as the logo or mark, a description of the goods or services associated with the trademark, and a fee. The application will be reviewed by the trademark office to ensure that it meets all legal requirements, such as being distinctive and not confusingly similar to existing trademarks.

Once the trademark is registered, the individual or organization can then apply for a VMC. The certificate of authority will verify the ownership of the trademark by checking the information in the application against the trademark registration. If everything matches and the certificate authority finds no issues, the VMC will be issued.

It’s worth noting that different countries have different rules and regulations for obtaining a trademark and also for obtaining a VMC. For those businesses that are offering goods and services in the US may have authority to apply for trademark registration with the United States Patent & Trademark Office (USPTO). If you are seeking a USPTO trademark registration to apply for Gmail Authenticated Brand Logo, our trademark attorneys can assist!  Simply click on the “Contact” button, or the “Looking For Trademark Assistance” button and fill out our contact form.  It takes less than a minute!

Who Issues Verified Mark Certificates?

Verified Mark Certificates (VMCs) are typically issued by a certificate of authority, which is a third-party organization that verifies the authenticity of digital certificates and digital identities, such as trademarks. The certificate of authority checks the validity of the trademark registration and ownership, and then issues the VMC. The VMC serves as an official proof that the trademark is valid and legally registered to a specific individual or organization.

The providers that issue VMCs are typically private companies that have been authorized by the relevant trademark office or other regulatory body. Some examples of such entities include:

• GlobalSign which is a certificate of authority that issues VMCs for trademarks registered in the United States.
• DigiCert which is a certificate of authority that issues VMCs for trademarks registered in the United States.
• Comodo which is a certificate of authority that issues VMCs for trademarks registered in the United States.
• Entrust which is a certificate of authority that issues VMCs for trademark registered in the United States.

In the United States, the USPTO (United States Patent and Trademark Office) is a recognized trademark office, and a certificate of authority issuing a VMC for a trademark registered with the USPTO will check the USPTO’s records to confirm the trademark registration.

It’s worth noting that different certificate of authorities may have different requirements and recognition of different trademark offices. It’s recommended to check with the certificate  of authority that you intend to use for their recognition of different trademark offices.

Once I received my VMC, How Does Gmail Authenticate My Brand Logo?

To apply for a Gmail authenticated brand logo with a verified mark certificate (VMC), you will need to follow these steps:

• Go to the Google Workspace Marketplace and sign in with your Google account.
• Click on the “Get it now” button for the Gmail Authentication Logo with VMC service.
• Follow the prompts to submit your application, including providing information about your brand and uploading your logo.
• Additionally, you will need to upload your VMC which is issued by a third-party certificate authority (CA) such as DigiCert, GlobalSign, Entrust or Comodo.
• Wait for Google to review your application. If approved, your logo will be added to the Gmail authentication process, helping to increase trust in emails sent from your domain and will also display the verified mark certificate next to the logo in the email header.

As noted above, getting a VMC involves additional steps and costs and not all brands are eligible for the VMC. Make sure you are the authorized representative of the brand and you have the rights (e.g., a trademark registration issued by the USPTO) to use the logo you are submitting and also you have a valid VMC issued by a recognized certificate of authority.

What Are the Benefits of Using Gmail Authenticated Brand Logos?

There are several benefits of using Gmail Authenticated Brand Logos:

• Increased Trust: A Gmail Authenticated Brand Logo helps to increase trust in emails sent from your domain. It shows recipients that your emails are from a legitimate source and not from a phishing or spamming entity.
• Brand Recognition: The logo is displayed next to your email address in the recipient’s inbox, helping to increase brand recognition and awareness.
• Reduced Spam: Authentication helps to reduce spam and phishing attempts, which can damage your brand’s reputation.
• Verified Mark Certificate: If you have a Verified Mark Certificate (VMC) in addition to the logo, it will provide an extra layer of trust and legitimacy to your brand by showing that the email is coming from a verified source.
• Improve Deliverability: Authenticating your email can also help improve your email deliverability, as it proves to email providers that your email is legitimate and not spam.

Overall, using a Gmail Authenticated Brand Logo can help to increase trust in your brand, reduce spam and phishing attempts, and improve email deliverability. If you are seeking a USPTO trademark registration to apply for Gmail Authenticated Brand Logo, our trademark attorneys can assist!  Simply click on the “Contact” button, or the “Looking For Trademark Assistance” button and fill out our contact form.  It takes less than a minute!