# Supporting the petition to recognize open-source work as volunteering in Germany

**URL:** <https://forum.shopware.com/t/supporting-the-petition-to-recognize-open-source-work-as-volunteering-in-germany/108711>\
**Category:** Other Questions (EN)\
**Tags:** open-source\
**Created:** [4. März 2026 um 16:07 UTC](https://forum.shopware.com/t/supporting-the-petition-to-recognize-open-source-work-as-volunteering-in-germany/108711 "2026-03-04T16:07:17Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![marco.steinhaeuser](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex013/user_avatar/forum.shopware.com/marco.steinhaeuser/32/14512_2.png) [@marco.steinhaeuser](https://forum.shopware.com/u/marco.steinhaeuser)\
**Post date:** [4. März 2026 um 16:07 UTC](https://forum.shopware.com/t/supporting-the-petition-to-recognize-open-source-work-as-volunteering-in-germany/108711/1 "2026-03-04T16:07:17Z")

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Folks, this is completely off-topic, yet necessary:

Something I’ve been thinking about a lot lately: Germany’s open-source maintainers do volunteer work that keeps our digital infrastructure running. But legally, it doesn’t count the way volunteering at a local club does.

There’s a petition to change that, started by the TYPO3 Association. It would formally recognize code, docs, and security work as civic engagement.

I just signed. If this resonates with you, consider adding your name too.

> **[Recognition of Work on Open-Source as Volunteering in Germany - Online-Petition](https://www.openpetition.de/petition/online/recognition-of-work-on-open-source-as-volunteering-in-germany)**
>
> Open-Source-Software builds the foundations of digital infrastructure in big parts - in administration, economy, science and daily life. Even the current coalition agreement of the Federal Government mentions Open-Source-Software as a fundamental...