Mark codes and the Mark certificate: proof of what's yours

A Mark certificate is Gradiently's certificate of authenticity for a Mark: a numbered record, issued by the Gradiently registry, that shows the Mark is an original, who holds it today and its whole ownership history. Alongside it, every Mark has a short public code such as GR·K7Q2·MX that names it wherever it appears. The code tells you which Mark; the certificate tells you whose.

Both exist because of one rule: every Mark has exactly one owner at a time. If you are new to Marks, start with what a Mark is and how to find and claim one.

What a Mark code is and where to find it

A Mark's code is its public identifier. It never changes, whoever owns the Mark, and it is the quickest way to point someone at exactly one look among thousands. You'll find it on the Mark's page under Details, on the Mark's menu in your brand (Copy its code), and on its certificate.

Mark code             GR·K7Q2·MX
Typed into search     grk7q2mx   (no dots, any case)
Certificate number    GRC-7K2M-9QXA-4TPW

You don't need to type the dots. Search in the Market accepts a code without them and in any case, so grk7q2mx finds the same Mark as GR·K7Q2·MX. That makes codes practical to share in a message, a brief or a style guide: write the code next to the Mark's name and anyone on your team can pull up the exact look.

What a Mark's page tells you

Open any Mark and its Details show its colours from darkest to brightest, the type it speaks in, its code, its number in the Library, its materials, family, mood and ground, when it was created, and its ownership history. The same page names its creator, which never changes, and its owner, which can.

GR·77GK·A0

Poppy Terrace

See this Mark

What a Mark certificate shows

The certificate gathers everything needed to answer one question: is this Mark genuine, and who holds it? It comes straight from the Gradiently registry, the only place certificates are issued.

From a certificate you can copy its number, copy a link to it, open the Mark, or Download certificate to keep a PDF copy for your records.

How to verify a Mark certificate

Checking a certificate takes no account and no sign-in. It is designed for anyone: a client confirming their agency handed over the right Mark, a buyer checking before they rely on one, or you, keeping a record.

1. 1

   Go to the verify page

   Visit gradiently.design/verify. You can also reach a Mark's certificate from Certificate of authenticity in its Details.

2. 2

   Enter the number or the code

   Type the certificate number from the top of the certificate, such as GRC-7K2M-9QXA-4TPW, or the Mark's code. Either works.

3. 3

   Choose Check

   If nothing matches, you'll be told no certificate has that number. Check each character against the certificate and try again.

4. 4

   Read the verdict first

   It says whether the certificate is genuine and current, then who holds the Mark and since when, then the full history.

Current, replaced and revoked certificates

A certificate belongs to one owner's time with a Mark. Each change of owner issues a new certificate and replaces the old one, so an older certificate stays genuine as a record but no longer proves who holds the Mark today.

A third verdict, Revoked, means the Mark was removed from the Gradiently registry, so the certificate no longer proves anything about it. And if a Mark has never been claimed, its certificate says so plainly: Gradiently holds it, and anyone can claim it.

What a certificate does not prove

A certificate proves that a Mark is an original Gradiently Mark, who holds it on Gradiently and every change of hands, as recorded by the registry. It is not a registered trademark. If you want legal protection for your brand's look, speak to a trademark professional in your country. What the certificate gives you is simpler and immediate: a record anyone can check that a look is yours to design and export with.

That exclusivity is what makes a Mark useful as one of your distinctive brand assets: the look people learn to recognise isn't sitting in someone else's feed. For why owning a look matters in the first place, read why owning your look beats renting a template.