diff --git a/VERSION b/VERSION
index c8233dac..41adeaf4 100644
--- a/VERSION
+++ b/VERSION
@@ -1 +1 @@
-8.3.192
+8.3.193
diff --git a/commands/CmdCD.c b/commands/CmdCD.c
index 9b64a4f7..7c26e678 100644
--- a/commands/CmdCD.c
+++ b/commands/CmdCD.c
@@ -837,6 +837,7 @@ CmdCellname(w, cmd)
     bool is_cellname;
     bool dolist = FALSE;
     bool dodef = FALSE;
+    bool doforce = FALSE;
     int option;
     int locargc = cmd->tx_argc;
     char *cellname = NULL, *orient = NULL;
@@ -909,6 +910,10 @@ CmdCellname(w, cmd)
 	    dodef = TRUE;
 	    locargc--;
 	}
+	else if (!strcmp(option, "force")) {
+	    doforce = TRUE;
+	    locargc--;
+	}
     }
 
     if (locargc > 5 || locargc < 2) goto badusage;
@@ -1276,7 +1281,7 @@ CmdCellname(w, cmd)
 	case IDX_RENAME:
 	    /* Rename the cell and mark as modified.  Do not write to disk. */
 	    if (locargc != 4) goto badusage;
-	    DBCellRename(cellname, cmd->tx_argv[3 + ((dolist) ? 1 : 0)]);
+	    DBCellRename(cellname, cmd->tx_argv[3 + ((dolist) ? 1 : 0)], doforce);
 	    break;
 	case IDX_CREATE:
 	    newDef = DBCellLookDef(cellname);
@@ -1312,7 +1317,7 @@ badusage:
 		"instances|celldef|delete [name]\n", cmd->tx_argv[0]);
     TxError("or:    %s [list] allcells|topcells|window\n", cmd->tx_argv[0]);
     TxError("or:    %s create name\n", cmd->tx_argv[0]);
-    TxError("or:    %s rename name newname\n", cmd->tx_argv[0]);
+    TxError("or:    %s rename name newname [-force]\n", cmd->tx_argv[0]);
     TxError("or:    %s [un]lock [name]\n", cmd->tx_argv[0]);
     TxError("or:    %s writeable [name] [true|false]\n", cmd->tx_argv[0]);
     return;
diff --git a/database/DBcellname.c b/database/DBcellname.c
index a0dd4d80..6885cd8c 100644
--- a/database/DBcellname.c
+++ b/database/DBcellname.c
@@ -77,7 +77,10 @@ extern void DBSetUseIdHash();
  *
  *	Rename a cell.  This differs from the "save" command in that the
  *	cell is not immediately written to disk.  However, the cell is
- *	marked as modified.
+ *	marked as modified.  If "doforce" is TRUE, then allow renaming
+ *	of vendor (read-only) cells.  Because vendor cells are tied to
+ *	a GDS file, then the vendor status gets revoked and the pointer
+ *	to the GDS file gets removed.
  *
  * Results:
  *	Return TRUE if the cell was successfully renamed.  Return FALSE
@@ -89,9 +92,10 @@ extern void DBSetUseIdHash();
  * ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
  */
 bool
-DBCellRename(cellname, newname)
+DBCellRename(cellname, newname, doforce)
     char *cellname;
     char *newname;
+    bool doforce;
 {
     HashEntry *entry;
     CellDef *celldef;
@@ -119,8 +123,16 @@ DBCellRename(cellname, newname)
 
     if ((celldef->cd_flags & CDVENDORGDS) == CDVENDORGDS)
     {
-	TxError("Error:  Attempt to rename read-only cell \"%s\"\n", cellname);
-	return FALSE;
+	if (doforce)
+	{
+	    TxPrintf("Warning:  Renaming read-only cell \"%s\"\n", cellname);
+	    TxPrintf("Read-only status will be revoked and GDS file pointer removed.\n");
+	}
+	else
+	{
+	    TxError("Error:  Attempt to rename read-only cell \"%s\"\n", cellname);
+	    return FALSE;
+	}
     }
 
     /* Good to go! */
@@ -129,6 +141,22 @@ DBCellRename(cellname, newname)
     result = DBCellRenameDef(celldef, newname);
     DBWAreaChanged(celldef, &celldef->cd_bbox, DBW_ALLWINDOWS,
         (TileTypeBitMask *) NULL);
+
+    if (doforce && ((celldef->cd_flags & CDVENDORGDS) == CDVENDORGDS))
+    {
+	char *chkgdsfile;
+	bool isReadOnly;
+
+	chkgdsfile = (char *)DBPropGet(celldef, "GDS_FILE", &isReadOnly);
+	/* Note that clearing GDS_FILE will also clear CDVENDORGDS flag */
+	if (isReadOnly) DBPropPut(celldef, "GDS_FILE", NULL);
+
+	DBPropGet(celldef, "GDS_START", &isReadOnly);
+	if (isReadOnly) DBPropPut(celldef, "GDS_START", NULL);
+	DBPropGet(celldef, "GDS_END", &isReadOnly);
+	if (isReadOnly) DBPropPut(celldef, "GDS_END", NULL);
+    }
+
     UndoEnable();
     return result;
 }