Certification Mark

Certification marks are names or symbols used by groups, companies or persons that show compliance to a set of standards. Certification marks are important for businesses that want to demonstrate the quality or authenticity of their products. Trade associations and centralized commercial groups and companies are the most common owners of these marks. To get the rights to use a given mark, the business’s goods must reach a certain standard.

Consumers want a guarantee that products meet desired standards. To meet this demand, more companies are trying to get a certification mark or create a certification body. This provides airtight proof of quality or authenticity for the product in question. It also puts consumers’ minds at ease.

By achieving a specific standard for example a specific Halal standard; companies can show that their products are inline with the reference halal standard by using the halal certification mark that is legally owned by the certification body , the licenser, and they can show it in a proper way under the licenser’s regulations.

Certification Marks vs. Trademarks

There are two main differences between certification marks and trademarks:

• A certification mark is not used by its owner. Instead, authorized users use the mark. However, the owner maintains control over the use of the mark.
• A certification mark does not indicate a source. It also doesn’t distinguish the goods or services of one company from those of another producer.

The certification mark is regulated as typically as the trademarks.

Like with trademarks, it’s up to the owner of the mark to monitor and control the use of the mark. Failure to enforce the standards of the certification mark can result in cancellation of the mark. Using the same mark for two different purposes also invalidates the mark.