Proof of the Right to a Domain

The "common name" of a web server certificate is typically the domain name of the site upon which the certificate will be used (i.e. www.example.com) or a canonical based upon your domain (i.e. store.example.com).

• Note: The common name will be the base of all secured URLs which are called with the "https://" prefix. (i.e. https://store.example.com/ or https://www.example.com)
• Note: Secure URLs must be exact. If www.example.com if your common name your will use https://www.example.com/. The URL https://example.com/ or https://store.example.com/ will not be secure.
• Note: Any sub folders off of your commain name URL are secure (i.e. https://store.example.com/merchant2/miva.mvc )

Because Thawte we will be issuing a certificate tied to a domain name they need to be sure that you have the right to use that domain.

Please check the following cases to see if you need to send Thawte proof of your right to use the domain name. If in doubt, please check the WHOIS output for your domain.

• Thawte DOES NOT NEED PROOF if your domain is registered to your company exactly as it is in your certificate signing request (CSR), unless they specifically ask for it.
• If your domain is registered to a person Thawte will require a letter authorizing your organization to use the domain for business purposes from the person to which the domain is registered.
• If you are a subdivision of the company who owns the domain, Thawte will require a letter proving this.
• If your domain is registered to a company and you have subsequently changed the organization name in any way, Thawte will need documentation to prove that.

If you are required by the above instructions to send us proof, Thawte needs to know the following about your domain name registration:

1. Which Registry you registered through.
2. The name and contact information you gave as an administrative contact.
3. The name and contact information you gave as a technical contact.

A faxed copy of the WHOIS output for your domain will be sufficient.

We will use this information to verify your right to use the domain name we are certifying.