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.

 

[Parmandur]

Someone did a comparison, they are more like the dollar store dice and not like the chessex dice. I like chessex dice and dollar store dice just fine just not the latter at the priors price point.

Do they sell polyhedral dice in dollar stores now???

 

[darjr]

Do they sell polyhedral dice in dollar stores now???

Yea, I tried some. I both appreciate the dollar store and am not happy about them at the same time.

 

[Marc Radle]

We’re obviously going pretty far off topic now, but I’ve personally never seen D&D / polyhedral dice at the Dollar Store … I wonder if it’s a regional thing?

 

[Olaf the Stout]

"TSR Games" is actually not Ernie, it's Justin LeNasa. Ernie's involvement is mostly his name and his ability to generate controversy with poorly thought out transphobic and racist comments.

These tweets are not Ernie going after his brother, Luke.

It depends what TSR you're talking about. TSR 3 is Ernie, acquired by naughty word means. Also, most people will not understand the difference between the two TSRs and just think they are one and the same company. Jayson Elliot is going to be collateral damage in this.

Edit: Got my Jaysons and Justins mixed up.

 

[darjr]

We’re obviously going pretty far off topic now, but I’ve personally never seen D&D / polyhedral dice at the Dollar Store … I wonder if it’s a regional thing?

Dollar Tree now sells RPG Dice

Someone local scooped this a few minutes ago, and I had to go check it out for myself. RPG dice for $1 - at Dollar Tree.

www.enworld.org

Note I may be using dollar store instead of dollar tree. That’s on me.

 

[Rob Kuntz]

It depends what TSR you're talking about. TSR 3 is Ernie, acquired by naughty word means.

Ernie is listed as Executive VP. Jeff Leason is also an Exec. Then there are two I've never heard of before.

From their twitter feed: "reformed in 2020 by Justin LaNasa, Ernest G. Gygax Jr, Jeff R. Leason & Stephen E. Dinehart."

From the BG Geek announcement: "The team includes Justin LaNasa (CEO), Ernest G. Gygax Jr (EVP), Jeff R. Leason (COO, and Stephen E. Dinehart (CCO). LaNasa is a visionary and entrepreneur that has set out to reunite brands like TSR with the original talent behind them."

 

[Eyes of Nine]

In what way are Eric and Luke related? Brothers? Cousins?

 

[Parmandur]

In what way are Eric and Luke related? Brothers? Cousins?

Ernie and Luke are full brothers, both sons of Gary who have played since the earliest days of the game.

 

[Rob Kuntz]

Ernie and Luke are full brothers, both sons of Gary who have played since the earliest days of the game.

Not quite correct, but half right. Ernie played from the earliest days (1972 onward); Luke was age 2 when we started playtesting but by age 8 (1978) Gary was weaning him into his run with Melf.

 

[FrozenNorth]

This is a valid point. Intelligent people constantly revise their views. Unless, of course, they are dead.

If you’re a lich, you can revise your views even after your death.

Edit. Ninja’d!