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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Ulfgeir

Hero
Worse thing is, the suit was brought up by an actual law firm...
Well, just because it is an actual law firm, does not mean they have either ethics or competence, as has been shown all over the news during the past year.. And if you don't want to use certain political examples, take a look at Techdirts coverage of the very bad copyright-lawyer Richard Liebowitz, or the infamous Prenda-case...
 

Levistus's_Leviathan

5e Freelancer
That is circular logic.

Honestly I doubt the case will win, although hope it does, because it doesn't seem to have any of the writers involved and they are the ones slander by the disclaimer.
Yeah that's my point, they need actual writers and artists, at least 1, for this to go anywhere and they don't appear to have any (likely because of the fear that WotC and its allies will destroy their careers).
If you're defending TSR-3000 in anyway, that's when you're supposed to know that you're in the wrong. No one is being slandered by WotC's disclaimer on older products, just like no one is being slandered by Disney's disclaimer on older movies. And if someone feels like they're being attacked by the disclaimer, that says way more about their own character than that of the people that wrote it.

This is just plain nonsense.
 
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Bolares

Hero
Well, just because it is an actual law firm, does not mean they have either ethics or competence, as has been shown all over the news during the past year.. And if you don't want to use certain political examples, take a look at Techdirts coverage of the very bad copyright-lawyer Richard Liebowitz, or the infamous Prenda-case...
Oh sure. I'm a (not practicing at the moment) lawyer in Brazil. I've seen weird stuff from lawyers out there.
 

Nikosandros

Golden Procrastinator
I might actually have been wrong about the lack of gaming products. Apparently they have a game called Tales & Tots. The description fills me with confidence in the skill of the editor.

Do you want your children to stop playing with electronic tablets and pads?
Do you want to see them get off the consul video game systems?
 




Sacrosanct

Legend
Looks like they've cracked $1300.
Four digits.
Big league.
I suspect most of that is from a) himself, b) his direct circle of people, or c) people who see this as not only a fight against WoTC, but a fight against the "woke", which is what really motivates them into action.

Doesn't matter if he's wrong or not. How much air time does My Pillow Guy still get and his mess ups are a mile long?
 

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