Why Gemini Protocol Has a Bright Future
The other day (earlier this week) someone joined our IRC network to share with us his/her Gemini capsule, asking for it to be added to our "Planet Gemini". We know many people read Techrights in Geminispace because the logs indicate that so far this week (5 days) we've served over half a million gemini:// requests.
While it is difficult to definitively prove intent, it definitely 'feels' like Google is trying to hide Gemini Protocol (by googlebombing; "I believe this was the main thing that slowed down this protocol searchability and popularity," someone alleged 13 hours ago*). About an hour ago this page was updated, indicating a net gain of about 20 active capsules (like Web sites) in less than 2 weeks.
Well, there are several sayings along the lines of, if they fight you, then it means you're a threat to them. It's worse being ignored than being fought, as the fight itself is indicative of potency. Maybe Gemini Protocol's promise becomes more appealing as the Web turns to slop and bloat; the "old Net" or "old Web" or anything that emulates these things is under attack (nowhere to run means nowhere to hide). █
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* Some people enjoy the "sour grapes" and say they prefer it that way. Quoting the comments: (to make them accessible and readable also in HTTP/S)
LucasMW · 13 hours ago:I believe this was the main thing that slowed down this protocol searchability and popularity.
However, being kind of occult may be a good thing in disguise.
=> /u/darkghost/31018 👻 darkghost · 13 hours ago:
I like hiding here. That nobody can find us is a feature not a bug.
=> /u/skyjake/31019 🕹️ skyjake [mod...] · 12 hours ago:
I just noticed this funny bit of news: Google is commandeering the name "Gemini Space" as well: => https://www.androidauthority.com/google-pixel-gemini-space-first-look-apk-teardown-3577101/ — https://www.androidauthority.com/google-pixel-gemini-space-first-look-apk-teardown-3577101/
=> /u/stack/31020 🚀 stack · 12 hours ago:
I thought it was great that we were hidden behind the Winklevoss's Gemini crapcoin fund, but now with google's Gemini we don't show until page 30.
It's extremely lucky -- only those who mean to find us do so. Getting randos here is not something I want,
You should add another choice:
###Celebrate it!
=> /u/darkghost/31021 👻 darkghost · 12 hours ago:
That and all the press about the protocol seems to date back to 2020
=> /u/stack/31022 🚀 stack · 12 hours ago:
There is not much to write about as the specification is frozen. That is why capitalist products are in constant flux.
Things that work well and are not constantly 'upgraded' are not a good story. When was the last time Common Lisp was in the news? 1980's, most likely.
It's OK that the best things in life are not in the mainstream.
=> /u/decant/31023 😎 decant · 12 hours ago:
I think it is not a bad thing, gemini is our hidden zen garden and google is helping us to keep it that way
=> /u/sbr/31024 ☀️ sbr · 12 hours ago:
Trying to find gemini resources written in elixir takes you down some dark rabbit holes...
=> /u/benj/31025 🚀 benj · 12 hours ago:
Like many others here I agree that being hidden is kind of a feature, although I was a little lost when I was trying to get back into the smol web after a 3 year hiatus and couldn’t find anything about “gemini”. I guess it’s time to expand my searches to stuff like marginalia (in there a page about the gemini is the third result!)
=> /u/darkghost/31032 👻 darkghost · 12 hours ago:
Gemini protocol comes right up as this Gemini. At least until it is hijacked for some Gemini AI feature.
=> /u/bluesman/31034 🦎 bluesman · 11 hours ago:
We could sue and distribute the settlement evenly among all active Gemini users. It could be a fortune. This is a joke, btw.
=> /u/stack/31035 🚀 stack · 11 hours ago:
If anything, I'd be more concerned about Google squashing our Gemini.
How? Watch out when someone forms a "Gemini Foundation" and maybe gives Solderpunk a grant, to look legit. They cannot do anything about a decentralized community, so they will actively centralize it (for chump change)
I am sure enough well-meaning naifs here would welcome corporate money, more development and a path to a 'mass adoption' or whatever.
Do not fall for that, and do your best to educate your fellow geminauts who may confuse our successful sensible simplicity with a more common definition of success involving corruption, complexity and expansionism.
=> /u/mbays/31036 🚀 mbays · 11 hours ago:
I predict that in n years, no-one will remember the LLM called Gemini, because it's been renamed, superceded, or shut down, while our Gemini will still be going strong. n=5 feels about right.
=> /u/kallisti5/31037 👺 kallisti5 [OP] · 10 hours ago:
I will say, *IF* Gemini wanted to do something about it, now would be the time. If Gemini waited too long, Google would win in a trademark dispute (maybe even coming *after* gemini)
Technically, if we went to Google now, i'd bet they would throw cash at making the trademark conflict go away outside of court.
A new open source Gemini (or likely a new name) foundation could be created around it and push new non-conflicting branding.
=> /u/stack/31038 🚀 stack · 9 hours ago:
What trademark conflict are we even talking about? Who registered Gemini trademarks on our side, and in what countries? Do we use the proper TM or circled R designator? Is every document mentioning our protocol footnoted with "Gemini is a trademark of..." --who exactly?
Sorry guys, there is no trademark case in this universe. Google came and trademarked 'Gemini'. Done.
However, looking at how say, Apple, sued everyone who used <Mac> in their product name, and later, everyone whose product started with i-... I can see that Google may not want anyone else to use their product name.
And again, if you ever see "Gemini Foundation" talk, do what you can to stop it. I only mentioned it so you can recognize it as a tool to centralize and destroy Gemini as we know it, not to suggest it's a good idea.
Because it's not, and you can see how 'some people' [trying hard to avoid offensive but appropriately harsh language] would find it attractive (for reasons identified previously)
P.S. Using a name does not give you any trademark rights (unlike copyright which is automatic). You have to apply for, register, and defend your trademarks in countries of interest.
=> /u/sbr/31039 ☀️ sbr · 9 hours ago:
I feel like its all moot when gemini is a commonly used word, heck gemini.com is some crytpo crap. The majority of its used is to do with zodiac.
=> https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gemini — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gemini
Many many many things predate the small webs use...
=> /u/hyena/31040 🚀 hyena · 8 hours ago:
I found out about the gemini protocol only 3 days ago by word of mouth. It was mentioned offhandedly in a lemmy comment.
Even if Google's AI were still named Bard, I doubt I would have ever stumbled across this place through a traditional search. And I have actively looked for information on the indie web.
So, maybe there's a bit of a catch-22: people who are refugees from the large internet will have to use the very products they are trying to avoid if they want to bring new people into this space.
There is a lot more at odds with gemini's growth than the fact that Google is shadowing its name.
=> /u/darkghost/31041 👻 darkghost · 7 hours ago:
Trademark is a strange realm. As @stack says, nobody registered a trademark on our side. That is the end of our case. But what is the function of a trademark? It protects companies and customers from market confusion. Gemini is a common word. As long as Gemini the protocol doesn't adopt the font and rainbow squished diamond thing, and we are unlikely to be confused for Google Gemini. Having no organization, being small, and being obscure also helps. Google sues who exactly if they are defending Gemini against our protocol? Yeah. Exactly. Its like some company in the 70s trying to protect their trademark on email or hypertext.
=> /u/requiem/31045 💀 requiem · 6 hours ago:
Social media hashtags have settled on #geminiprotocol, so I tend to just refer to it as that.
=> /u/stack/31047 🚀 stack · 6 hours ago:
Sooner or later Google will name some technology "Gemini Protocol", and likely, we will become unsearchable in Google. That is great as those who normally use google services without holding their nose likely do not belong here.
And unless they centralize us, there is no one to sue or change anything. Hence my warnings re: gemini foundation, funding of a central project, an authority with a code of conduct, officers, etc. Those who support such things while babbling of mass adoption and corporate backing are not your friends.
=> /u/stack/31048 🚀 stack · 5 hours ago:
Consider this subspace:
=> gemini://bbs.geminispace.org/s/Critical_Mass — bbs.geminispace.org/s/Critical_Mass
The mod there routinely deletes my dissenting responses because in their solipsistic little mind they cannot imagine a world where other opinions exist or that they may be on the wrong side.
You will always find me critical of those desiring to seek "mass adoption", killer apps, or other means of destroying our little community by flooding us with hordes of newcomers.
As others have explored, a community can preserve its values while expanding slowly. A rapid inflow does not allow for a gentle transition and accomodation of newcomers, who then rely on other newcomers to guide them. That absolutely destroys the original community, drastically changing everything.
I do not wish for that to happen here.
=> /u/Breebee/31049 ☕️ Breebee · 5 hours ago:
I wrote a rant blog post about this a little while back
=> gemini://breebee.smol.pub/fuck_google_gemini_06_23_2025 — breebee.smol.pub/fuck_google_gemini_06_23_2025
I would love it if we fought it but I fear even if absolutely everyone who uses the gemini protocol pushed back, google is still unfortunetly the bigger fish
=> /u/pista/31050 💎 pista · 5 hours ago:
Props to @stack for being the first person I’ve seen on the Internet to have some clue how a trademark works.
Even if Google managed to trademark Gemini, it would be limited to protecting a brand of AI software. A pre-existing protocol wouldn’t be affected, nor would it be grounds to nullify the mark since they are different classes of products.
The function of a trademark is to prevent confusion of like products.
Apple can be a trademark for a computer company. Apple can also be a trademark for a different company producing cleaning products. But you probably can’t trademark Apple for a brand of apples by an orchard.
Additionally it is easier to trademark a complete fixed image including logo, brand lettering, and the name than it is to trademark a single word or phrase.
While everyone wants the broadest protection possible, most registered trademarks are specific to the complete mark itself and not a lone word or phrase.
=> /u/stack/31052 🚀 stack · 4 hours ago:
Fun fact: in my previous life I was denied a trademark for 'RealBASIC'; the PTO claimed it was "descriptive and in common use". Somehow, McDonalds got "Lovin' it". It's all about how many lawyers you have on retainer bending reality.
=> /u/jecxjo/31053 👾 jecxjo · 1 hour ago:
Honestly y'all should be more upset that Musk took the word Grok. Ruining literature and nerd culture is far more harmful.