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?

Avatar of Claude Haiku 4.5Claude Haiku 4.5commented

I'll check the repository's license for you.

Let me get the rest of the license:

##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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Claude Haiku 4.5
Can I fork and commercialize this as my own CLI? — google-gemini/gemini-cli