TSR TSR3.5 Launches IndieGogo Campaign to "Stop" WotC

The latest in the TSR3 saga, which has gone quiet for a while, is a new IndieGoGo campaign launched to "stop Wizards of the Coast". They cite wrongful bullying of TSR, and refusal to answer requests that WotC show TSR "proof of their claims" (although the campaign page doesn't mention what those claims are).

The IndieGoGo campaign was launched yesterday and has so far raised $675 (at the time of writing).

The action TSR seeks is a "Trademark Declaratory Judgement of Ownership" which is a court declaration about the status of something in dispute.

TSR has launched a campaign to stop Wizards of the Coast

Become a Champion of TSR and Support TSR’s campaign against Wizards of the Coast!

TSR is taking a stand against Wizards of the Coast (“WOTC”) and its wrongful bullying of TSR, our trademarks, and its public libeling and slander of all those who helped create TSR based Dungeons & Dragons and products.

Wizards of the Coast has continually bullied TSR regarding TSR’s legally owned Trademarks. Wizards of the Coast has refused to answer all of TSR's repeated requests that they show any proof of their claims. Wizards of the Coast has the vast resources behind them and is implying to bring them to bear down on TSR.

The new TSR suffered widespread pushback when it launched, which they blamed on WotC, claiming that they were under a "coordinated assault across various channels being mounted.... by [WotC]" The company announced itself earlier this year, having acquired the TSR trademark after the previous holder accidentally let it lapse. It was run by Ernie Gygax, Justin LaNasa, and Stephen Dinehart. After several weeks of controversy, the company split into two -- Wonderfilled (Stephen Dinehart), and TSR (Ernie Gygax and Justin LaNasa).

TSR - TSR3 Blames Widespread Pushback On WotC

In an unexpected turn of events, the primary individuals behind TSR3 have claimed the pushback they've received on social media and elsewhere was orchestrated by .... D&D publisher Wizards of the Coast (a company which has thus far remained completely silent on recent events). TSR3 is run by...

www.enworld.org

The page also indicates an intention to "fight to have WotC's legacy product disclaimer removed" from older products (that's the disclaimer on the older books available on DMs Guild which indicates that those books are products of their time) by claiming that the disclaimer portrays the creators of those older products as "as supporting those alleged prejudices, stereotypes and bigotry, wrongfully claimed to be part of those products".

TSR will also Fight to Have the WOTC Legacy Disclaimer Removed

TSR is suing WOTC for Trademark Declaratory Judgement of Ownership . TSR will also pursue in the near future having WOTC remove the legacy content disclaimer placed on TSR based Dungeons & Dragons and other products, and retractions of any other libel and slander which alleges that racism and other heinous beliefs are incorporated into those products.

This disclaimer attempts to make a statement of fact argument, and therefore paints all of the writers, editors, artists and consumers of those products as supporting those alleged prejudices, stereotypes and bigotry, wrongfully claimed to be part of those products. This statement by Wizards of the Coast opens the possibility for the producers and players of these "Legacy Products" to face ridicule, and face the labeling as "bigots", "racists", "misogynists", and worse Cyber & Physical Attacks!

Wizards of the Coast legacy content disclaimer.

"We (Wizards) recognize that some of the legacy content available on this website does not reflect the values of the Dungeons & Dragons franchise today. Some older content may reflect ethnic, racial, and gender prejudice that were commonplace in American society at that time. These depictions were wrong then and are wrong today. This content is presented as it was originally created, because to do otherwise would be the same as claiming these prejudices never existed. Dungeons & Dragons teaches that diversity is a strength, and we strive to make our D&D products as welcoming and inclusive as possible. This part of our work will never end".

TSR3's Justin LaNasa spoke about the campaign in a YouTube video.

TSR - Companies & Freelancers Distance Themselves From The New TSR

The new TSR (which I refer to as TSR3 to avoid confusion) has doubled down on its stance--which has been widely condemned online--via an ongoing series of tweets and replies from its TSR Games, Giantlands, and Dungeon Hobby Museum social media accounts (possibly operated by Justin LaNasa) in an...

www.enworld.org

 

[jdrakeh]

Ernie, not Gary (although I suppose he's 'E. Gary Gygax' if he wants to be).

Sorry. Edited! Thanks for pointing out my error.

 

[Umbran]

Wasn't the heat of the moment like, six months ago?

Yep.

IIRC, it seems to be that LaNasa is actually the one who holds the rights to the TSR trademark. So, if Ernie, an aging man who has not really gotten much out of his father's legacy wants anything out of this, he has to go along with LaNasa, even if he doesn't hold the same beliefs.

And, if LaNasa's the kind who makes women in his employ wrestle in grits, I don't expect he's... a nice person when crossed.

 

[grimslade]

Yep.

IIRC, it seems to be that LaNasa is actually the one who holds the rights to the TSR trademark. So, if Ernie, an aging man who has not really gotten much out of his father's legacy wants anything out of this, he has to go along with LaNasa, even if he doesn't hold the same beliefs.

And, if LaNasa's the kind who makes women in his employ wrestle in grits, I don't expect he's... a nice person when crossed.

So Ernie isn't a bad man, just weak and ineffective? Or willing to be tied to bad people to make a buck? Weird flex.

 

[darjr]

Note, I was wrong, their discord is open.

 

[LordEntrails]

Let's see them actually file the paperwork with a court. I doubt they have or ever will. (edit: Post by Tenkar later shows they have)

This is now making it obvious that the real reason they're doing all this is just to make $$$ without having to actually produce anything!

But they have, they produces a 3:31 YouTube video. And this time it looks like he might of even had a rough draft of what he was going to say!

They’ve probably been getting C&Ds from WotC and they want to fight for ownership of whatever WotC is asking them to stop using - likely art, and possibly the TSR name and logo.

My guess is WotC has been sending C&Ds about it.

I wonder about C&Ds. They way these guys have been acting, if they had actually gotten a C&D I think they would "post" that as proof they are being harassed. (edit: Post by Tenkar later shows they have)

Regardless of LeNasa's intent with this crowdfunding campaign . . . . I don't think it's going to go the way the thinks it will . . . .

As for being successful, LaNasa can claim victory, after all, he has already gotten himself enough for a nice dinner for himself (ignoring the probable $600 he posted himself).

 

[Umbran]

So Ernie isn't a bad man, just weak and ineffective? Or willing to be tied to bad people to make a buck? Weird flex.

No "flex" is involved here. Merely presenting alternate hypothetical scenarios to make people think before making their minds up about the guy.

Heck, with this crowdfunding, a bunch (including me) are more than willing to accept the idea that it is a scam. Do you think the scam started with the crowdfunding? Maybe Ernie was one of the first victims - "Hey, I snapped up the trademark! If we pool our money, we could make something of this...!" And now Ernie can't afford to leave....

Go ahead - tell me that's implausible.

 

[Von Ether]

These guys just get more bizarre.

 

[J.Quondam]

Apparently he's no longer their PR guy, but now their chief creative officer. At least that's what he's calling himself. I'm pretty sure titles don't mean squat with a company of only a couple people.

I suppose "obfuscating, misinforming, and spinning" does require some measure of creativity.

 

[Deset Gled]

I wonder about C&Ds. They way these guys have been acting, if they had actually gotten a C&D I think they would "post" that as proof they are being harassed.

Generally speaking, publicly posting a C&D is done by people who aren't afraid of the threat. TSR is. There's no way LaNasa would risk spending his own money going to court over this. Also, there's a bit of gray area as to whether it's always legal to share them (you can copyright a C&D). And there's always the possibility that WotC has gone further than a just a C&D.

Apparently he's no longer their PR guy, but now their chief creative officer. At least that's what he's calling himself. I'm pretty sure titles don't mean squat with a company of only a couple people.

I think he's had that title for a few months now. As you say, titles don't mean much. I'd be much more impressed to find out TSR actually brought in enough money to pay him a livable wage.

 

[Sacrosanct]

Everything I've heard about Ernie from those who have known him for a long time, including people I respect, all say a similar thing. He's a genuine nice guy who wants to help people, but is easily manipulated and desperately wants to cement his name in the D&D legacy as more than just "Gary's son." Those latter two things make him especially vulnerable to people like Justin.

I'm not excusing his comments, or saying he doesn't have responsibility (he's a grown man, after all).