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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...

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).


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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.


 

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Interesting, I didn't notice it before, but the video is unlisted. And when you go to the cannel (TSR Hobbies) it has no content, no videos, nothing. And 4 subscribers.

Not familiar enough with YouTube, does that mean their videos can only be accessed if you have the link? So you can't see a list of all the ideos they have posted etc?
 

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J.Quondam

CR 1/8
I believe there are two things driving this.

First, this isn't a lawsuit or crowdfunding, this is marketing. TSR isn't really expecting to go to court, they're attempting to capitalize off of the publicity. Over the past few months, they have leaned really heavily into playing up anything "controversial" in their marketing. If you watch some of the interviews LaNasa and Michael have done, they spend a lot of time talking about "putting down rumors", "setting the record straight" on misunderstandings, and similar things. This crowdfunding/lawsuit is just another offshoot of that. They want to make waves, and this is how they're going to get attention. The timing of filing this is because they just released a new board game, and want to sell copies.
Given LaNasa's background, I strongly suspect his grandest of dreams would be to ignite a "culture war" in the wider media beyond nuTSR's vast array of half-dozen customers.
 

J.Quondam

CR 1/8
Interesting, I didn't notice it before, but the video is unlisted. And when you go to the cannel (TSR Hobbies) it has no content, no videos, nothing. And 4 subscribers.

Not familiar enough with YouTube, does that mean their videos can only be accessed if you have the link? So you can't see a list of all the ideos they have posted etc?
Yes, that's what it means: only viewable via a provided link. It's otherwise not indexed.
 




Charlaquin

Goblin Queen (She/Her/Hers)
Except it very much doesn't. 🤷‍♂️

If someone says "Huckleberry Finn contains some offensive language and depictions of terrible prejudice. They were wrong when it was written, and are wrong now", that doesn't mean the classic book is trash, that Mark Twain was wrong to write it, or that anyone who enjoys it is being slandered.
Oh, I agree! Sorry, if I wasn’t clear, I meant that TSR’s IndieGoGo campaign says the WotC legacy disclaimer defames creators and players. Not that the disclaimer actually does that, which I agree it very clearly does not.
 


To NuTSR this is an epic legal battle, for Hasbro legal, this is a 5-minute email before a coffee break. At least Sysiphus got jacked pushing that boulder up the hill for eternity.


It's important to keep in mind that TSR is LaNasa's side gig. His day-to-day job is his tattoo parlor. He can afford to watch this company, the people, and the legacy burn to the ground. It will just be Tuesday for him, too. The narrative that this is an "epic legal battle" is part of the marketing.
 

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.
Oh dear lol. That is unlikely to end well and their legal fight will probably end with a lawyer frowning at them and saying no to their plan.
 

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