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]

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

Roll initiative

 

[Parmandur]

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

Yeah, no doubt.

 

[Zardnaar]

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

The manure is in the dumpsters. On fire.

Wouldn't be surprised if it's just a PR move/cry for attention. No such thing as bad publicity might apply if they weren't planning on producing much.

Mother taught me to ignore attention seekers, others used the leather belt as a cure.

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

The manure is in the dumpsters. On fire.

Wouldn't be surprised if it's just a PR move/cry for attention. No such thing as bad publicity might apply if they were planning on producing much.

Mother taught me to ignore attention seekers, others used the leather belt as a cure.

Or perhaps the burning dumpster train crashes into a commercial composting business or waste management plant.

Hmmmm. Yes. The latter sounds right.

 

[Sacrosanct]

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.

They are not mutually exclusive. A person can be asked to take responsibility for their actions and also be manipulated.

Ernie didn't go on saying all these horrible things until after getting involved with these people. Then it exploded. That's evidence #1. Then his brother, who knows Ernie better than you or I ever will, was pretty clear this isn't the Ernie he knows, and called Justin a manipulator. He even mentioned how Ernie in the past went out of his way to help LGBT people they knew. That's evidence #2

So yes, as an adult he should absolutely be held accountable for what he said. But if you think you know the context and character of a person based on a few idiotic moments on social media, I don't know what to tell you. Luke is a good guy, and I trust him. So I'm gonna take his word over anyone who doesn't actually know Ernie personally. Ernie pooped the bed, he has to own that. But that doesn't also mean he hasn't been manipulated into saying things way more problematic than he's ever done. Those aren't mutually exclusive. And again, age doesn't mean you suddenly can't be manipulated. There are entire industries built around manipulating people of every age group.

 

[Sacrosanct]

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

Yep. These guys not only violated Hasbros IP, but then went full on associating that with bigotry. Hasbro is gonna have to protect their IP and squash this association. Justin et al could have possibly been ignored by Hasbro if they kept their mouth shut, but no. They had to go make an association between old school TSR products (which Hasbro owns) and their own bigotry. I don't see how Hasbro let's this go.

 

[Zardnaar]

Or perhaps the burning dumpster train crashes into a commercial composting business or waste management plant.

Hmmmm. Yes. The latter sounds right.

Then they can call a press conference in front of the plant right?

 

[Enevhar Aldarion]

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

The steel-toed boots of WotC/Hasbro versus the jackboots of TSR3.


And on a side note, when I googled for whether it was jack boot or jackboot, I was shocked that there are so many boots called that and showing up for sale in that search. I had thought, for a long time now, that the term was no longer used because of it's association with the Nazi and Soviet military and their totalitarian regimes. I know I would personally feel uncomfortable buying from any company selling boots using this name.

 

[Gradine]

As a Trans person, let me be the first to say that, while the latter is always the goal, the former is the next best thing.

It'd be nice if nobody were transphobic. But learning that being transphobic out loud will get them ostracized and their businesses crashing and deciding to shut their faces instead is a pretty solid consolation prize, and does make the world a measurably nicer and safer place for folx like me

For those curious, this was the post cited in the other thread as an example of the "destructive mob going too far"

Which just.....

<sigh>

AND ON ING PRIDE MONTH?!

 

[billd91]

For those curious, this was the post cited in the other thread as an example of the "destructive mob going too far"

There's a pretty big difference between a mob socially and economically ostracizing someone and murdering them just for being.

List of people killed for being transgender - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org