Is this official Google or CA guidance?
No. It rearranges public BIMI Help and CA comparison material into an interactive path. Not affiliated with Google, DigiCert, or other issuers. Not legal advice.
Does CMC get the Gmail blue checkmark?
Public Google material associates the verified checkmark narrative with VMC. CMC is described as allowing logo display without that checkmark. Provider UIs change — verify live Help before promising executives a checkmark.
Can I start with CMC and upgrade to VMC?
Often yes as a practical bridge while a trademark finishes, but you will re-issue/replace certificate material and may adjust BIMI DNS. Plan the upgrade explicitly.
Do answers leave this browser?
No upload path is implemented. See the privacy page. We never buy certificates or submit CA evidence for you.
What if I have neither trademark nor prior use?
Do not purchase yet. File trademark and/or start the public-use clock, while finishing DMARC and SVG work that both paths need.
What about government marks?
Some issuers offer government mark certificates verified via official records. That is a different evidence track than VMC/CMC — select it explicitly in the checklist.