TSR NuTSR Sells Rebound 1E Core Rulebooks For $650 Each

Despite being embroiled in ongoing legal disputes with WotC regarding use of the TSR trademark (amongst other things), NuTSR has posted images of leather-bound compilations of AD&D 1E books they say are rebindings of old material, complete with the disputed logo. They're selling these books for $650 each.

The Deities & Demigods book (middle top in the image) has a typo on the front cover.

TSR - The Full & Glorious History of NuTSR

Because the Saga of TSR3 has been ongoing for a while, with many landmarks, I thought I'd do a quick timeline for those who haven't had the time (or, frankly, inclination) to keep up with the whole palaver. As multiple entities refer to themselves as TSR, I will use the nomenclature (1), (2)...

www.enworld.org

About these books, NuTSR says "Look what just came in. Sorry, we didn't have these in for TSR CON. (in the beginning, WotC said similar to what people below are saying. We said they are rebound of old material. Long story short, WotC said ok no problem, we have it in writing)"

As rebindings, these would be existing books simply being resold. However, the covers with the disputed logo are new.

In early March WotC launched a lawsuit -- (PDF attachment of filing) -- naming TSR, TSR CEO Justin LaNasa personally, and the Dungeon Hobby Shop museum. WotC seeks a judgement that TSR hand over all domains, take down all websites, pay treble damages and costs, hand over all stock and proceeds related to the trademarks, and more.

 

[MichaelSomething]

I would post a suprise Pikachu face here If I wasn't on my phone. I was genuinely surprised how bizare this product is from a business sense...

But stuff like this is Right up their alley.

 

[Terry Herc]

Ok, I'll admit it - I couldn't find the typo.

 

[Waller]

Ok, I'll admit it - I couldn't find the typo.

"Heros"

 

[Retreater]

What a bargain!

 

[TerraDave]

I keep thinking this is done, but it will never be done. They will keep coming up with crazier and crazier naughty word.

 

[Abstruse]

Now, this is likely technically legal...under First Sale Doctrine in the United States, you have the right to resell any product you have legally purchased, even if you have modified it from its original condition. You just have to disclose the modifications.

The trick for media is it must be sold in its original format. I can buy a bluray of a movie and sell it with a custom case or paint on the label, but I can't rip it and sell it as a DVD. If I want to sell a book, I can rebind it in a custom cover but I can't print out a PDF and bind that.

Now I'm not saying that's what they're doing because I don't know...I'm just saying that the first and second printings of Deities & Demigods that include the Cthulhu Mythos and Elric material go for between $125 and $350 right now on eBay and there are only so many that are even available for sale in a condition that would survive rebinding...and the rebinding process on its own (not counting any restoration that needs to be done or actually making the covers themselves) starts at around $75 from what I've seen...

 

[J.Quondam]

I keep thinking this is done, but it will never be done. They will keep coming up with crazier and crazier naughty word.

They probably highlighted all the nipples in the monster manuals, just to stick it to overly-sensitive modern gamers.

 

[Dr. Bull]

Wow. This is for people who have "more dollars than sense".

 

[Dausuul]

Now, this is likely technically legal...under First Sale Doctrine in the United States, you have the right to resell any product you have legally purchased, even if you have modified it from its original condition. You just have to disclose the modifications.

The trick for media is it must be sold in its original format. I can buy a bluray of a movie and sell it with a custom case or paint on the label, but I can't rip it and sell it as a DVD. If I want to sell a book, I can rebind it in a custom cover but I can't print out a PDF and bind that.

Now I'm not saying that's what they're doing because I don't know...I'm just saying that the first and second printings of Deities & Demigods that include the Cthulhu Mythos and Elric material go for between $125 and $350 right now on eBay and there are only so many that are even available for sale in a condition that would survive rebinding...and the rebinding process on its own (not counting any restoration that needs to be done or actually making the covers themselves) starts at around $75 from what I've seen...

Is it still legal if the new binding has another company's trademark on the cover?