Thawte - I think not!
Thinking of developing an Adobe AIR application? Cool, just don’t think about applying for a code signing certificate through Thawte - the provider of the worse customer service I have experienced this year. I was granted a free code signing certificate from the nice people at the Adobe AIR Marketplace and immediately applied for a code signing certificate for my business. When I say my business, I mean myself since I am a sole proprietor (yes, this is a legal business entity in case you forgot Thawte).
After applying for the code signing certificate, I was tole that I will need to provide proof of right; which includes the following documents as quoted directly from the email I received from Thawte:
Fax one of the following Proof of Right documents to (650) 237-8888A. Valid Business License or Business Registration documentB. Articles of Incorporation or Certificate of IncorporationC. Articles of Organization or FormationD. DBA (Doing Business As), Fictitious Business Name, Trade Name, or Assumed Name registrationF. Charter Documentation (For Banks, Universities and Government Agencies) These documents must show proof they have been properly filed by the appropriate government, state or county authority.
Although thawte’s proof of right document says all I need to supply is a DBA, they are requiring my to file a certificate of authority with the state. This certificate of authority has one sole purpose: to collect and remit sales tax. Obviously, being a sole proprietor as a web consultant I do not collect sales tax (I am not required to do so in NY) and do not wish to file a certificate of authority. I sent an email explaining this to thawte, but they insist that I send them a copy of a certificate of authority, and refused to provide me any additional information (thanks guys for being so helpful). I still insist that there is absolutely no good reason for obtaining a certificate of authority, other than some numb-nut at the county office building told them I need to have one, for whatever reason:
In researching your filed dba with Oneida County they indicated your must also file a business status with NY State. I contacted NY state and the operator indicated you do need to file for a : Certificate of Authority.
Ironically, I actually called the same number Thawte did (the only information I was able to get from them was the 2 numbers they called to verify my DBA) and spoke with a nice person who indicated that there is NO reason for a business to apply for a certificate of authority if they do not collect state sales tax.
So, unfortunately, it looks like I will not be able to take advantage of this great offer Adobe has provided to AIR developers… its rather unfortunate that individual developers who work as a sole proprietor cannot be granted a code signing certificate (at least according to thawte).
My question is whether or not an individual developer such as myself should even bother learning and developing for Adobe AIR when I cannot be granted a code signing certificate as a sole proprietor?