California Code, Corporations Code - CORP § 25010

(a) With respect to certificates of deposit, voting trust certificates or collateral-trust certificates, or with respect to certificates of interest or shares in an unincorporated investment trust not having a board of directors or persons performing similar functions or of the fixed, restricted management or unit type, “issuer” means the person or persons performing the acts and assuming the duties of depositor or manager pursuant to the provisions of the trust or other agreement or instrument under which the security is issued.However,with respect to equipment-trust certificates or like securities, “issuer” means the person by whom the equipment or property is or is to be used.

(b) With respect to certificates of interest or participation in oil, gas or mining titles or leases or in payments out of production under those titles or leases, “issuer” means the person or persons in active control of the exploration or development of the property who sell those interests or participations or payments or any person or persons who subdivide and sell those interests or participations or payments. The determination of the person or persons in active control of the exploration or development of the property shall be made on the basis of the actual relationship of the parties and not on the basis of the legal designation of a person's interest.

(c) With respect to a fractional or pooled interest in a viatical or life settlement contract, “issuer” means the person who creates, for the purposes of sale, the fractional or pooled interest. In the case of a viatical or life settlement contract that is not fractionalized or pooled, “issuer” means the person effecting the transactions with the investors in those contracts.

(d) In the case of an unincorporated association which provides by its articles for limited liability of any or all of its members, or in the case of a trust, committee, or other legal entity, the trustees or members thereof shall not be individually liable as issuers of any security issued by the association, trust, committee, or other legal entity.