Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Entertainment/2014 June 18

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June 18

Are YouTube celebrities an example of sole proprietorship or any other business?

I see some YouTube channels belonging to the so called "verified" accounts meaning that account belongs to a well-known user or a corporate entity. Is earning revenue from ads placed on blogs and YouTube videos an example of sole proprietorship? I see some blogs with ads and some YouTube accounts are part of a ad program that the user are compensated based on pay-per-click. WJetChao (talk) 06:16, 18 June 2014 (UTC)

In the USA definitions of business forms vary by state. A sole proprietorship is pretty standard, though, and basically just kind of comes into existence when you start doing business for yourself. However, in terms of the question you asked about ad revenue, you would be an independent contractor rather than sole proprietor because of the nature of your relationship with Google. Google has the relationships with the advertisers, delivers the ads, develops the software, etc. You set up a contract with them not as an employee but as a contractor. Of course, as with any law-related question here, you shouldn't base any decisions on this answer. The Digital Media Law Project, which began with citizen media in mind, is a great resource for these kinds of questions and will be a better and more competent help than we are here. Business Forms at DMLP. --— Rhododendrites ^talk |  18:37, 18 June 2014 (UTC)