In our previous share out, we focused on why contributors might engage in a Marketplace and the kinds of value they’re looking for. Since then, we’ve turned our attention to something even more foundational—trust.
If we want the Marketplace to succeed, contributors, agencies, and end users must believe:
- Templates are high-quality and secure
- Contributors are treated fairly and transparently
- There are clear, enforceable standards for what gets listed
That’s the work we’re deep in now.
What Builds Trust?
Across our first two surveys, last week’s Slack prompt, and the Hopes & Fears Jam conducted at the Quarterly Drupal Certified Partner Webinar, three critical trust signals have emerged:
1. Clear Quality Standards—Published and Enforced
Templates must meet defined standards for code quality, security, accessibility, and UX. Contributors want to know what “good” looks like before they invest time; end users want confidence before they adopt.
If the Marketplace becomes a dumping ground for mediocre or insecure templates, it will actually hurt Drupal.”
"Templates should be clearly rated on accessibility, code quality, and what modules they’re pre-styled for.”
The Week #5 prompt in #drupal-cms-marketplace dives directly into this question:
“What accessibility, security, or coding standards should be required for free and/or paid site template listings—and how should they be verified?”
We’d love to hear your thoughts!
2. Trustworthy Governance and Accountability
Policy alone doesn’t build trust—clear enforcement and transparency do. People want to know someone is actively ensuring fairness and protecting the ecosystem.
Governance modeled after the Security Team would give me confidence someone’s watching the store.”
"What’s the dispute process if I think something’s plagiarized or violates guidelines?”
The Marketplace Working Group met last week to begin shaping a draft governance model grounded in your feedback. While still early, this work is focusing on:
- Who might set and enforce Marketplace rules
- How listings might be reviewed and approved
- How disputes and appeals may be handled
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What may be required to maintain a listing over time
3. Transparency Around Recognition and Revenue
The Marketplace must offer both recognition and a fair value exchange. Contributors want clear attribution, visibility for upstream maintainers, and thoughtful revenue models that strengthen—rather than undermine—Drupal’s open-source values.
I don’t mind people making money—but I want to know how it flows back to the people maintaining the ecosystem.”
Progress on Governance: Turning Feedback into Structure
The Marketplace Working Group’s emergent governance framework is designed to create a Marketplace that is socially, technically, and financially responsible—and deeply aligned with Drupal’s open-source mission.
The scope of the framework includes:
- Submission and Review Guidelines: Clear public standards for what qualifies as a free, certified, and/or paid template—including accessibility, security, and code quality.
- Monetization and Revenue Sharing Models: Exploring how paid listings can fairly compensate contributors while also supporting module maintainers, the DA, and the ecosystem as a whole.
- Security and Quality Assurance: Establishing review processes to certify templates and flag those that are outdated or poorly maintained—ensuring users can clearly see the trust signals they need.
- Dispute Resolution and Appeals: Drafting a lightweight, transparent approach to handling conflicts fairly and consistently.
- Transparency and Community Feedback: Creating a clear process for proposing and reviewing policy changes with full community input.
This work is just beginning, and ongoing feedback will help shape what comes next.
How You Can Get Involved
Your input is critical to shaping a Marketplace that reflects Drupal’s values and strengthens our ecosystem. Here’s how to get involved this week:
- Take Survey #3: Marketplace Governance and Community Values.
Help us understand your expectations for fairness, openness, and revenue models. - Join the Slack Discussion – Share your views on Slack in #drupal-cms-marketplace:
“What accessibility, security, or coding standards should be required for free and/or paid site template listings—and how should they be verified?” - Participate in the Ecosystem Roundtable – Participate in the Drupal Certified Partner and Agency Roundtable to share your perspective directly: 29 May 2025 | 15:30 UTC Register now.