[{"_1":2,"_123":-5,"_124":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99,111],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":72,"_74":72},"mediaId",6463703,"mediaKeyId","5785142-010590574277086b9a890206e0ec1a89","parentId",5785142,"title","Creators at House hearing describe contract, payment‑term and tax challenges; call for education and clearer rules","audioSeconds",4374,"startMs",2362000,"endMs",6736000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5785142-010590574277086b9a890206e0ec1a89&start=2362&end=6736","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5785142-010590574277086b9a890206e0ec1a89/thumbnail_2362000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6463703/Creators-at-House-hearing-describe-contract-paymentterm-and-tax-challenges-call-for-education-and-clearer-rules","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6463703-bd50458dcae3ec8d2c9d96fc04d88d73/orig.mp4?Expires=1771110101&Signature=UNudGWKASvmRm9MwdAb3LxJCUocSmn-3egCI228HQ2KCW-NEzZZgKu2cKAEP~ek89SnbcDS7sa~ORbt9WnFkd1UX5ADgkNfWjWgPd7ix3gxMsmW00ROXx4qbGREtoUEyvE-JqLAr968fDux6Hdhr71DukyatdV8lBxDRowc-4BIG4v2JEUzIiMtHWd2KOUaTjSKiQrkZ1dQbsynh3BhSvszn~4pQM-sHyaF0A8JOEi1kRXj1PQD6uPcU-e6lgfAsQS968NPsuFjz~tq9UfjI28j4BA3IXB2lmKXmyDqYSanHYHCd5t3qvIkLDOwrIQ2nYFK4CX9iIuG-qDJQNWiF4w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","U.S. House Committee on Small Business","date","2025-09-18T08:03:09Z","article","Creators, talent managers and legal counsel told the House Small Business Committee that payment terms, contract clauses and tax compliance create recurring barriers for small creator businesses.

Kayla Moran, founder and managing attorney of Kayla Moran Law, said one‑sided contract terms and delayed payment schedules are common problems. “Often payment terms are net 60 or net 90, meaning a creator won't be paid for their work for up to 3 months,” Moran testified, and she described late or missing payments as a persistent issue for creators.

Christina Brennan described a resource gap: many creators lack access to advisors who can review contracts, advise on indemnification and limitation of liability clauses, or help decide whether to form an LLC or an S‑corp. Moran and Brennan recommended education and accessible referral lists for lawyers and accountants who understand creator business models.

Witnesses also described tax and registration burdens. Moran and others told the committee that many creators are unaware of quarterly estimated tax requirements; several witnesses said creators sometimes file taxes themselves rather than hire accountants because of cost pressures. Jesse Appel added that physical product sellers must navigate different sales‑tax registration and remittance rules in multiple states, creating administrative cost and complexity that small firms must outsource.

Panelists proposed concrete options for congressional or SBA action: model contract language limiting overly broad arbitration or indemnity clauses, SBA guidance on business classification and state nexus thresholds, and funding for education programs that teach creators about taxes, contracts and business formalization.

Committee members expressed interest in follow‑up materials and model approaches that could be shared widely with creator communities.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Streaming Success: Small Businesses in the Age of Digital Influence","oneSentenceSummary","Panelists told the House Small Business Committee that creators commonly face long payment terms, uneven contract provisions, inadequate business education and complex state tax obligations; witnesses urged SBA guidance, education programs and model contract terms to level the playing field.","taxTitle","Small Business: House Committee, Standing Committees - House & Senate, Congressional Hearings Compilation, Legislative, Federal","taxId",1829,"location","","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":72,"_74":72},6463709,"Creators selling goods say tariffs and trade policy have cost sales and disrupted supply chains",2023,3083000,5106000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5785142-010590574277086b9a890206e0ec1a89&start=3083&end=5106","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5785142-010590574277086b9a890206e0ec1a89/thumbnail_3083000.jpg","/articles/6463709/Creators-selling-goods-say-tariffs-and-trade-policy-have-cost-sales-and-disrupted-supply-chains","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6463709-2eabe406454a4fdf24204d4bf5d80481/orig.mp4?Expires=1771110101&Signature=WgqzlM9M~f6Wzwz76IzfzNYQpR~PhQduaRBGvSuUWBVXIukq1PU2fs-KI6knV7YNBNBsl~TEbsKsqPx8QBSI0UsZPWaf2VaOznKfXjb4H35KLt3lTOoZ0wNzonuxT64xzW0XmnQLvZwlDWQddYvkdh84l2w4-7fo55OSNAJaTP0uyE1LVH9KDUyCzIqASGezG4xIzu2gEMH8mbGYGeiDzvn6vJ4a2EfaBdwqhs6Xi7LRdGxJENkWU-uaP8LJGbD2LCqUMYAU2skifNq-WEedWW~9RJLHS7CTrNd0Iqmd2f5gGfzELld0nsP0~FuhchSfN43F0dkqUoYPgfHBAh0Qpw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Multiple witnesses at a House Small Business Committee hearing said recent U.S. trade and tariff changes disrupted supply chains for creators who sell physical goods and that the uncertainty has generated direct revenue losses.

Jesse Appel, founder of Jesse’s Tea House, testified that tariffs and sudden policy changes halted shipments from China that his business depended on and cost his enterprise roughly $250,000 in lost sales. “During the trade war, I had to skip a May subscription box because our shipment sat in port,” Appel said. He described de minimis threshold changes that led to postal delays and unpredictability for multi‑month production cycles.

Nicholas Luciano, founder of Tractor House, said rising costs for merchandise and fulfillment have forced him to raise prices at events and retail booths, reducing sales volume and reinvestment capacity. Witnesses said the frequency of tariff announcements and reversals made planning and pricing difficult for small sellers that rely on predictable lead times.

Committee members pressed witnesses on the practical effects of these measures and heard calls for small‑business exemptions or streamlined treatment for low‑volume imports tied to direct‑to‑consumer creators. Witnesses recommended policy coordination and clearer notice to avoid repeated disruptions to small sellers and subscription services.","E‑commerce creators who import products told the House Small Business Committee that recent tariff actions and changes to de minimis thresholds disrupted shipments, forced skipped subscription boxes and cost an estimated $250,000 in lost sales for at least one witness.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":72,"_74":72},6463714,"Witnesses urge congress to address AI content theft, deepfakes and platform moderation gaps",162,3799000,3961000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5785142-010590574277086b9a890206e0ec1a89&start=3799&end=3961","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5785142-010590574277086b9a890206e0ec1a89/thumbnail_3799000.jpg","/articles/6463714/Witnesses-urge-congress-to-address-AI-content-theft-deepfakes-and-platform-moderation-gaps","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6463714-2019d6052c37787ba99206e9d08c693a/orig.mp4?Expires=1771110101&Signature=Xwjkr~ZvxLYIsHVmKJKPxAdkfe1r315wY4fQS5uJrhkYkS~Qs2p4zfHfaQ90kJi43Z2luw~ss-SJnL8J1CN6MH4TJNmzVMkYWU5bQJTcGxML7JIPxipM9y0XIOAQW7t4QV19Tvq4E1pWt5T5xEQ9nqIOt4ZrQE3URsaHjZ2w3YPIGDW91SlRu8xTEbpaRJOxvyeAQl81Yhh7WlRcWSbac73PfXadwIzL9j1QV7w2OqbQemIKlBcrmUePquTiFoQBJSuLMHghUpAmM~R-QIaMagBZ2nw5yomjhxCR6cvNRvBtPq5mmx3b5BrG20Vi601A~z4GwFRgaaEKAoyT6GAwRQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","At a House Small Business Committee hearing on the creator economy, witnesses raised AI content theft, dubbing of videos and deepfake risks as immediate threats to creators’ livelihoods and to consumer safety.

Christina Brennan, president of Celeb Experts, said content theft and AI dubbing have dangerous consequences when a creator with professional credentials is misused in a false advertisement. “I represent a number of medical professionals, including a surgeon. At one point, his content was taken and they dubbed over a completely different ad... That is a very, very big problem,” Brennan said.

Witnesses described AI‑generated or scraped content crowding recommendation feeds and reducing visibility for human creators. One witness said the prevalence of scraped or AI material “gums up the airwaves” on recommendation‑based platforms and degrades the user experience. Creators said that stolen material and AI dubbing have led to false endorsements, safety concerns and lost commercial opportunities.

Panelists proposed several near‑term responses: mandatory disclosures when AI materially alters content; faster human review and escalation paths for alleged impersonations or harmful dubbing; enforcement of copyright and publicity rights where applicable; and improved verification systems to reduce fake accounts. Several witnesses also suggested regulatory models used abroad and stronger incentives for platforms to prioritize legitimate creator content.

Committee members stressed the need to balance technological innovation with protections for creators and consumers and asked witnesses to submit written materials documenting incidents and policy recommendations.","Creators and managers told the House Small Business Committee that AI‑generated content, dubbing and stolen videos are degrading user experience, harming creators’ income and, in some cases, posing safety risks; witnesses recommended disclosure rules, faster escalation processes and human review for serious complaints.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":72,"_74":72},6463717,"Creators tell House committee TikTok uncertainty harms small businesses; witnesses urge codified protections",1333,1814000,3147000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5785142-010590574277086b9a890206e0ec1a89&start=1814&end=3147","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5785142-010590574277086b9a890206e0ec1a89/thumbnail_1814000.jpg","/articles/6463717/Creators-tell-House-committee-TikTok-uncertainty-harms-small-businesses-witnesses-urge-codified-protections","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6463717-3f555e8c62fcf81e454e805620469e71/orig.mp4?Expires=1771110101&Signature=GUeMvaEiJitdNVCxIIeCnu8Wd7f0~wrUwdK-wEF6x0Afv2x2E968y2-XoMD7EBT07d6L~U01BwQ0kgCgrtxiL0q-moCi2~pQ3k8-Fnt0lBb4Lq2Bb7cy0gbKzWwI3JY2lwTFjZarhORfymY7BZTbQY3x21WZhS2rTljczlROZPe1-Mdsr--~XO4HTkNauHzKIkWEEbhhdjvutcX7Pfc~X1jwLMSLVLpXiSeDb5GmNyKhhSzeGEmkbtPrLpUFoJ0XqlOa7bh~H6cil04liglKVRsRfwl4W9UY21QNlGGnn63wEn46C82raZ4VPcDIWTxWp2~rrRT2h-pBoWoYNU~QDQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Witnesses at a House Small Business Committee hearing said uncertainty about TikTok’s future in the United States has had immediate economic effects for creators and recommended that Congress convert any long‑term platform agreements into statute to give creators predictable rules.

Representative Nydia Velázquez, the committee’s ranking member, described the “elephant in the room” as the federal actions around TikTok and said the short enforcement delays have created “uncertainty for the content creators that rely on this platform.”

Jesse Appel, founder of Jesse’s Tea House, said TikTok drives his sales and audience; “If TikTok is banned, I lose 600,000 followers and, sales losses likely in the hundreds of thousands,” Appel testified. He urged Congress to ‘‘codify any deal’’ so creators are not exposed to sudden platform losses.

Witnesses and members also said short enforcement delays and executive action have made it difficult for creators to plan beyond a two‑ to three‑month horizon. Kayla Moran told the committee that creators need a consistent federal policy and responsive agencies; she described the current situation as an “emotional roller coaster” for creators who cannot predict platform availability.

Members asked witnesses whether a confirmed deal would be sufficient, and several witnesses said a deal that is not codified could be reversed and therefore provides limited long‑term assurance to creators who build businesses tied to the platform.

Committee members and witnesses agreed that platform policy stability is important for planning by small businesses that use social media as their primary market channel.","Witnesses said repeated delays and possible bans of TikTok create short planning horizons for creators who rely on the platform and urged Congress to codify any long‑term arrangements to provide stability for creator businesses.",{"_33":112,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":113,"_41":114,"_43":115,"_45":116,"_47":117,"_49":118,"_51":119,"_53":120,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":121,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":122,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":72,"_74":72},6463721,"House Small Business hearing: witnesses urge federal support for ‘creator’ small businesses",992,1514000,2506000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5785142-010590574277086b9a890206e0ec1a89&start=1514&end=2506","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5785142-010590574277086b9a890206e0ec1a89/thumbnail_1514000.jpg","/articles/6463721/House-Small-Business-hearing-witnesses-urge-federal-support-for-creator-small-businesses","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6463721-e3d97ba21660b550a79e4affae2a73f0/orig.mp4?Expires=1771110101&Signature=FH8bHV0fWprR6LOmyocdileoQpNiiSt29Zjx83fw78DyqUTeyxvXXDdavF5KRsqtcnYgv9dnGDUsVnamaL9AaKmXprS5KZA1OuXaf8s3pTkbiUhL95l6PosyE~hYxtZZ3n0bAwyvgwmtBqM7d~OkRDcWXQugO4jF1mrOZMStV9AL4Bslhv3GHBg2bw5tXf0bzIwcXuiTO59-3u8yk9OIKYV3eRkr87DvGFFktqJq1hRaZmM22NLUb9bsxEeEBh3FE7Ae2Z06DpFygr0p4ARfIx0I0n5uGGVOdC7nhUH3mCoAsNub0GDaUTVxUX90BcmXhmLLNvpgnRZiNPQOkguveg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The U.S. House Committee on Small Business heard testimony that content creators have become a distinct class of small-business owners and said federal support and clearer rules are needed to help them scale and protect their businesses.

Kayla Moran, founder and managing attorney of Kayla Moran Law, told the committee that creators are “small business owners and entrepreneurs” who need the same infrastructure — lawyers, accountants and wealth managers — that other small businesses use. “Creators can turn side hustles into careers,” Moran said, adding that many creators need legal guidance about intellectual property and contract terms.

Moran and other witnesses described a patchwork of state laws governing the right of publicity — the ability to commercialize a name, image and likeness — and urged Congress to consider federal statutory guidance to reduce cross‑state uncertainty for creators who operate across jurisdictions. Moran suggested a federal licensing pathway for creator‑economy attorneys to avoid questions about unauthorized practice of law when lawyers advise clients across state lines.

Christina Brennan, president of Celeb Experts, described the creator economy as “a marketplace, a workplace, and in many cases, a lifeline for small and large businesses alike.” Brennan urged more education and transparency for creators, saying many lack the knowledge to navigate contracts, tax obligations and payment terms.

Nicholas Luciano, founder and CEO of Tractor House, and Jesse Appel, founder of Jesse’s Tea House, described turning digital audiences into product lines, jobs and local economic activity. Luciano said creator operations now involve payroll, merchandising and partnerships with printers, fulfillment companies and other small businesses. Appel said he has sent more than 80,000 orders to customers nationwide and described the creator model as both a media company and an e-commerce business.

Committee members pressed witnesses on concrete steps Congress could take, including expanding resources from the Small Business Administration, creating model guidance for tax and business classification, and improved access to affordable legal and accounting services. Witnesses and members also raised problems with inconsistent state sales‑tax rules and the administrative burden on sellers that ship products nationally.

The testimony emphasized education as a near‑term, actionable measure. Moran, Brennan and others recommended SBA‑led toolkits or referral lists of lawyers, accountants and technical experts who understand creator business models. Brennan suggested targeted SBA resources for creators, and Moran recommended federal statutory clarity on rights of publicity and protections for child performers.

The hearing included repeated references to the scale of the creator economy: witnesses cited industry estimates, including that more than 1,500,000 Americans earn a full‑time living as creators and that platforms such as YouTube have sizable economic footprints.

Committee members asked witnesses to submit follow‑up material; the chair announced members would have five legislative days to submit additional questions and materials for the record.

","Witnesses at a House Small Business Committee hearing described content creators as small business owners, urged the Small Business Administration and Congress to provide tailored legal, tax and educational support, and asked for clearer federal guidance on rights of publicity and cross‑state protections.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Creators at House hearing describe contract, payment‑term and tax challenges; call for education and clearer rules

Creators selling goods say tariffs and trade policy have cost sales and disrupted supply chains

Witnesses urge congress to address AI content theft, deepfakes and platform moderation gaps

Creators tell House committee TikTok uncertainty harms small businesses; witnesses urge codified protections

House Small Business hearing: witnesses urge federal support for ‘creator’ small businesses