TSR TSR (2) Confirms TSR (3)'s Acquisition of Trademark (Updated!)

Jayson Elliot registered the TSR trademark back in 2011 and used it to launch Gygax Magazine along with Ernie and Luke Gygax. The two Gygax's left the company a few years later after Gary Gygax's (co-founder of TSR (1) back in the 1970s) widow, Gail Gygax, forced the closure of Gygax Magazine. Then, earlier this year, TSR (3) swooped in on the TSR trademark, after Jayson Elliot accidentally let it lapse, as TSR (2) confirms:

We have owned the TSR trademark since 2011. Last year, we missed a filing date, and another company registered it, though we are still using it in commerce. While we could win a lawsuit, we frankly don't have the money to litigate. So, we're licensing it back from them.

As a result, there are two companies now using the name TSR. You can tell when it's us because we're the only ones using the new logo.

They're opening a museum in Lake Geneva at the old TSR house, and we wish them success with it, it's important to celebrate the legacy that Gary Gygax created.

Ernie Gygax, formerly of TSR (1) under Gary Gygax, then working with Jayson Elliot as part of TSR (2), is one of the founders of of TSR (3), and confirmed in his (now infamous) interview --

The other TSR is a licensee because [Jayson Elliot] let it lapse. But he had absolutely ... love for the game and the products. There was no reason to say 'oh you've screwed up, oh it's all ours, ha ha ha ha!' Instead, Justin [LaNasa] came to him and said ... we love that you're doing Top Secret things, we have a much broader goal for the whole thing. But there's no reason for you to stop or even have any troubles. Justin said, I'll take care of the paperwork, you just give me $10 a year, and you put out all this love for old school gaming that you can. And we appreciate that you were there to try and pick up things, and you produced Gygax Magazine, for in its time that you're also working on a game that you love to play ... because Top Secret was Jayson's love, as a young man.

TSR (2), still run by Jayson Elliot, publishes Top Secret, and is not connected to TSR (3) other than now having to license it’s own name from them. TSR (3) has also registered the trademark to Star Frontiers, a game owned by and still currently sold by D&D-owner WotC.

In other news the GYGAX trademark appears to have lapsed.

UPDATE! TSR (2) has decided NOT to license its own name from TSR (3):

Update to our earlier tweet - we will NOT be licensing anything from the new company claiming rights to the TSR logos. We are not working with them in any fashion.

 

[Black Dougal]

The crazy thing is that if they just published stuff under Swords & Wizardry or OSRIC, depending on what Ernie prefers for rulesets, they could have definitely moved books -- probably a fair amount of them. They just had to not run their mouths or get creative with their interpretations of the law.

Totally agree, it's also something that would help with projects getting done. From the info, I gleaned from Marmoreal Tomb Ernie pretty much just attached his name and put it on his partner who clearly had no professional experience and lacked a project manager. Not having to worry about IP, lawyers, accountants etc. It seems like the smartest move and the one with the "path to the least resistance".

I think they put too much into people flocking to the old TSR, and I do believe there is some ego involved. I can't comment on that much, trying to empathize. My father didn't create any pop culture-changing games but I can see how it might feel like it belongs to his family.

Again I realize everything I am saying is subjective and I truly do not know what they're thinking. If they're even thinking.

 

[darjr]

I didn't realize he was switching over to Troll Lords. Either way, MA is on track to have more support than Gamma World under TSR ever got.

Not switching, really, just splitting up the treasure.

 

[Dessert Nomad]

The crazy thing is that if they just published stuff under Swords & Wizardry or OSRIC, depending on what Ernie prefers for rulesets, they could have definitely moved books -- probably a fair amount of them. They just had to not run their mouths or get creative with their interpretations of the law.

That's why I'm keeping up with the Saga of New TSR - there are so many ways combining the name Gygax with the company name TSR could have turned into a license to print decent money, and they mostly involve 'don't screw up badly' and 'get some decent (not even great) product under the name'. Making copyright claims on art that is clearly owned by Hasboro (the takedown threats against the fan group using 1e art and old TSR logo) is past anything I would have expected. The earlier stuff could be described as 'shooting yourself in the foot', but this is 'shooting the giant creature that's immune to bullets until it gets pissed at you' level of screwing up.

My outlook started with 'this sounds interesting, oh cool Larry Elmore art is instantly recognizable,' moved to 'are they about to crash and burn', then rapidly to 'how will the inevitable crash and burn play out' and now is at 'will they do something even more self-destructive before the crash and burn is done'.

 

[Olaf the Stout]

Look at my post I made right before this one. I said he’s an adult and needs to take responsibility. So no, I’m not doing that.
Also, age has little to do with the ability of a person being able to be led astray or not. I think the past few years has proven that in spades.

You say that, but in the same post make several comments talking about how he’s a pawn and been led astray, which to me is saying that he’s not that bad, he’s just been influenced by bad people.

I judge people on their actions and it is clear to me that Ernie, or anyone making the statements that Ernie is making, is not a good person.

 

[Mistwell]

Double post - not sure how that happened.

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

The more I read, the more I expect feces to impact a rapidly rotating fan. Some of these names are going into both my personal AND business “won’t be associating with, ever” files.

 

[Zardnaar]

The more I read, the more I expect feces to impact a rapidly rotating fan. Some of these names are going into both my personal AND business “won’t be associating with, ever” files.

I think the fans covered, broken down and fallen down by now.

 

[Olaf the Stout]

What’s the next level above dumpster fire and train wreck? At this point I feel like Ernie and Justin have taken their train and gone full speed ahead at the biggest dumpster fire they could find.

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

I think the fans covered, broken down and fallen down by now.

Nah. I’m really expecting Hasbro to wade into this, throwing elbows and steel-toed boots.

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

What’s the next level above dumpster fire and train wreck? At this point I feel like Ernie and Justin have taken their train and gone full speed ahead at the biggest dumpster fire they could find.

I think it’s a freight train carrying burning dumpsters. Possibly with manure on board as well.