A mark that is placed on a product to indicate that it has a certain status, e.g., that it complies with a geographic designation of origin (GDO), is made by a certain process, complies with a standard or industry code of conduct, or is made with unionized labor. It is essentially akin to a trademark and is usually legally treated in the same way. Typically a certification mark needs to be controlled by an entity independent of the vendor, manufacturer and producer.