Maryland Commercial Law Section 8-201

      (a)      With respect to an obligation on or a defense to a security, an "issuer" includes a person that:

            (1)      Places or authorizes the placing of its name on a security certificate, other than as authenticating trustee, registrar, transfer agent, or the like, to evidence a share, participation, or other interest in its property or in an enterprise, or to evidence its duty to perform an obligation represented by the certificate;

            (2)      Creates a share, participation, or other interest in its property or in an enterprise, or undertakes an obligation, that is an uncertificated security;

            (3)      Directly or indirectly creates a fractional interest in its rights or property, if the fractional interest is represented by a security certificate; or

            (4)      Becomes responsible for, or in place of, another person described as an issuer in this section.

      (b)      With respect to an obligation on or defense to a security, a guarantor is an issuer to the extent of its guaranty, whether or not its obligation is noted on a security certificate.

      (c)      With respect to a registration of a transfer, issuer means a person on whose behalf transfer books are maintained.