Frequently Asked Questions
What are the tasks of the association?
The main task is to support core development on a more steady basis and improve the transparency and efficiency of various aspects of the TYPO3 project.
Check this for further information about the Associations goals and objectives
Why is it located in Switzerland, instead of Denmark, Germany, UK, Uganda...?
In Switzerland we can maintain Euro-bank accounts and it also seemed like the most "international" location to us, as many NGOs are located there. Since the Association is a tax-exempt non-profit organisation, tax rates have not been of relevance.
Why did you not create a foundation?
Because foundations do not have members or collect membership fees and we wanted the organisation to be based on participation.
What types of members does the assoction have?
The association has three kinds of members:
- Steering Committee members
- supporting members
- honorary members
How can I become a member of the Steering Committee?
You will need recommendations from two existing Steering Committee members.
How can I help?
Check out the list of committees and their assignments. Contact any of the people in these groups and tell them what you could contribute.
How much are membership and admission fees?
- Admission fee for supporting and Steering Committee members 100.00 EUR
- Annual fees for supporting and Steering Committee members 100.00 EUR
- Admission fee for supporting members (institutions) 500.00 EUR
- Annual fee for supporting members (institutions) 700.00 EUR or 2000.00 EUR (your choice)
These prices are preliminary, the general assembly will review the cost and incoming funds in due course and will then adjust fees accordingly.
For how long are Steering Committee members elected?
Any member is allowed to continue their membership as long as they pay their membership fee, and abide to the association bylaws. Please see article 7 and 8 in the bylaws.
Honorary members are elected for their lifetime and do not have to pay any membership fee.
Members of the Steering Committee that do not fulfill their duties can be expelled by the general assembly by majority vote.
Is there a mechanism planned to avoid that companies of association-members get projects out of the contact address?
Any member of the association can do commercial work. The customer solely chooses who they want to hire.
The website of the association will clearly state that the association itself is not doing any such projects and will link to places to get further information. The communication channels like mailing lists are open and everybody can read them. A few lists related to security and legal topics are closed but other members might be involved in this mailing lists too.
Is there a documentation team in the association?
No. The board will conduct a decision-protocol. The protocol of the general assembly will be available for all members.
In the commitees the work will be done. How will they be organised? What will they do?
That depends on the committee. The committees will be open groups consisting mainly of people from the community supported by at least one member of the Steering Committee. We are currently creating new tools to provide them with easy ways of communication. Additionally they will have their own mailinglists.
What is the defintion for "person" and "institution"?
A person in legal terms is an individual person:
The Swiss legal system considers a natural person to be any human being. A natural person is a legal subject, endowed with legal capacity and the holder of rights and duties.
An institution (in legal terms: a juridical person) is a bearer of rights and duties that is not a natural person (that is, not a human being) but which is given legal personality by the law - for example, a company.
At present TYPO3 comes without any warranty. Will the association give any warranty?
No, the association will not hold the rights on TYPO3 it also will not give any warranty.
Do you welcome national associations?
We think it will weaken forces and ask you to rather join with the international association we have created.