If Wizards of the Coast went out of business

[Nightfall]

REG,

I would be too. WotC's quality control...isn't either. It is, however, annoying in light of the fact most of us want an Age of Worms HC.

 

[Sir Elton]

How about another scenario? What if . . . somebody bought WotC back from Hasbro?

 

[Shining Dragon]

How about another scenario? What if . . . somebody bought WotC back from Hasbro?

Is Hasbro a euphemism for "death"?

 

[Glyfair]

It took alot years for Hasbro to give up (license?) the rights for the name "Runequest"..which they got when Avalon Hill was purchased.

Actually, I believe that it was the trademark that lapsed. It definitely lapsed (and Greg Stafford made sure to contact Hasbro to be certain it did, before he regained control and licensed it to Mongoose) and wasn't licensed by Hasbro.

It took about 9 years to do so. IIRC, there is some provision where you need to use a trademark to continue to control it. That's why you see minor comic book characters from the major companies make brief appearances every so often. As I understand it they often do so to make sure they don't lose the trademark (of course, certain comic creators like to trot out the obscure character on their own).

I was reading a story on the takeover from the time and what I thought was interesting was that they mention possibly using Runequest to get into the fantasy RPG market. Clearly those plans changed when they took the shortcut of buying WotC a few years later.

 

[kenobi65]

Keith should be the only one who would be directing Eberron's future of WotC goes into bankruptcy.

Just a nit...it'd be unlikely for WotC, themselves, to "go into bankruptcy." WotC could be shut down by Hasbro, or Hasbro itself could go into bankruptcy (though I don't see that as likely any time soon). But, a division of a bigger company doesn't go into bankruptcy, as I understand it.

 

[Nightfall]

How about another scenario? What if . . . somebody bought WotC back from Hasbro?

I'd like that if said company was willing to shell out billions of dollars to keep the company afloat.

 

[Ranger REG]

REG,

I would be too. WotC's quality control...isn't either. It is, however, annoying in light of the fact most of us want an Age of Worms HC.

I guess it would annoy me ... IF I'm a Dungeon reader.

 

[DaveyJones]

It's a nice thought, but I'm afraid that it's utterly not the case.

WotC owns Eberron, pure and simple. Keith may have helped create it, but he has no more legal right to it, or any of its content, than you do. If WotC or Hasbro chose to sell the brand, they could do so. If they do not do so, then only WotC can ever publish anything using the Eberron intellectual property.

If WotC were to go out of business, and chose not to sell Eberron in the process, then there would be no more Eberron product, pure and simple.

this is the way i have always thot it worked too.

i'm not a lawyer nor do i ever intend to be one.

but if WotC or Hasbro ever thot to sell the OD&D license. i'd be the first in line. not that i could afford to pay much for it. but i'd still give it my best shot.

Davey "what i've been waiting for someone to do since 1edADnD hit the market" Jones.

 

[DaveyJones]

REG,

I would be too. WotC's quality control...isn't either. It is, however, annoying in light of the fact most of us want an Age of Worms HC.

i am a Dungeon reader and i don't want one. i didn't want a SC one either. :\

 

[jmucchiello]

i am a Dungeon reader and i don't want one. i didn't want a SC one either. :\

Whether you want one or not, wouldn't you prefer Paizo to have the choice to publish one if they wished to?