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> now they are extracting profit

So? They're a business, what do you expect?

The previous commenter was saying they're doing more than just hosting video, which is true. If you want to create a nonprofit for video hosting, go ahead, but don't blame YouTube for turning a profit.

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Everyone replying in this manner is missing that I am discussing whether or not they are rent seeking. No one is questioning whether they are or should be making a profit. The person I replied to said they are not rent seeking, they are just seeking profit to fund operations. I claim they are rent seeking, which is according to wikipedia: "the effort to increase one's share of existing wealth without creating new wealth." No one is questioning that they are or should be making a profit, only the purpose and result of their profit seeking.

Also don't be surprised that your not for profit folds very quickly.

YouTube got to be YouTube because Google sank enormous amounts of money into it for no return for a decade. Indeed, YouTube probably still hasn't broken even if including those costs.

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