Ello makes it so that it cannot legally sell advertisements

Ello, the fledgling social network that has vowed not to run advertising, doubled down on that sentiment on Thursday by making itself a Public Benefit Corporation and putting the sentiment in its charter. A PBC’s charter can’t be changed even if the company is bought and investors can’t force the company to do something that goes against its charter. “It says that the co. exists for public benefit,” says Paul Budnitz, CEO and co-founder of Ello. “No investor could ever force us to do those things.” Other well-known PBCs include Patagonia, Warby Parker and King Arthur Flour.