Can I fork and commercialize this as my own CLI?

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tell me about the license. can i fork this and build my own cli? undeer my brand? and charge for it?

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Claude Haiku 4.5
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##Summary

The gemini-cli repository is licensed under the Apache License 2.0, which is quite permissive. Here's what this means for your questions:

###Can you fork and build your own CLI? Yes.

The Apache 2.0 license grants you:

  • Perpetual, worldwide, non-exclusive copyright license to reproduce the work
  • Permission to create derivative works and modify the code
  • Permission to redistribute your version in source or object form

###Can you do it under your own brand? Yes, with caveats.

However, there are important requirements (Section 4):

  • You must provide a copy of the Apache 2.0 license with your derivative work
  • You must include prominent notices stating which files you've modified
  • You must retain all copyright, patent, trademark, and attribution notices from the original
  • You cannot use Google's trademarks (the "Gemini" name itself is trademarked) without permission (Section 6)

###Can you charge for it? Yes.

Section 9 explicitly states: "While redistributing the Work or Derivative Works thereof, You may choose to offer, and charge a fee for..." — So you can monetize it.

###Key Restrictions:

  1. Attribution: You must clearly indicate where the code originated
  2. License propagation: Derivative works must also be licensed under Apache 2.0 (or compatible terms)
  3. Trademark: You cannot rebrand it as "Gemini" or use Google's trademarks
  4. Patent protection: You get patent protections, but if you sue someone, you lose your patent license under this agreement

This is a very developer-friendly license that essentially says: fork it, modify it, sell it—just give credit and don't misuse the trademark.


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Can I fork and commercialize this as my own CLI? — google-gemini/gemini-cli