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 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).

TSR - TSR3 Blames Widespread Pushback On WotC

In an unexpected turn of events, the primary individuals behind TSR3 have claimed the pushback they've received on social media and elsewhere was orchestrated by .... D&D publisher Wizards of the Coast (a company which has thus far remained completely silent on recent events). TSR3 is run by...

www.enworld.org

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.

TSR - Companies & Freelancers Distance Themselves From The New TSR

The new TSR (which I refer to as TSR3 to avoid confusion) has doubled down on its stance--which has been widely condemned online--via an ongoing series of tweets and replies from its TSR Games, Giantlands, and Dungeon Hobby Museum social media accounts (possibly operated by Justin LaNasa) in an...

www.enworld.org

 

[Umbran]

Perhaps not. It does, however, show their true colors to anyone who cares to see them.

Oh, they can spin a story for the faithful, about how something vague happened to make them withdraw, but that they should have no fear, they'll continue pursuing this to the ends of the Oerth!

Oh, wait, I mean Earth. They don't have the rights to Oerth...

Which, sadly, doesn't mean they won't proffit from this (Lanasa seems to be counting on the fact that WoTC isn't mad enough to ruffle any fan feathers; and he's sadly right. At least so far.)

You say, "he's sadly right". What, exactly, would you have expected WotC to do?

 

[Drake2000]

Clownfish cowardly banned me from responding to their comments after I pointed out that nuTSR has no products and is just a grift.

That ban should be worn like a badge of honor.

 

[Mort]

Oh, they can spin a story for the faithful, about how something vague happened to make them withdraw, but that they should have no fear, they'll continue pursuing this to the ends of the Oerth!

Oh, wait, I mean Earth. They don't have the rights to Oerth...



You say, "he's sadly right". What, exactly, would you have expected WotC to do?

If they were truly pissed off?

File an objection to the notice of dismissal/and or countersue. Then get discovery (which might lead to some interesting places and will keep NuTSR running ragged and the attorneys fees piling up.)

Then keep pushing until NuTSR at the very least admits publicly that every one of their claims is BS. then, after that, get their attorneys fees awarded to be paid by NuTSR.

you know, actually act like the big bully corporation NuTSR is falsely wining about.

But they won't do that - they likely see punching down as bad for business.

 

[MGibster]

What the hell am I going to do with all these NuTSR vs. WotC t-shirts I had printed?

 

[Bill Zebub]

What, all $675?

Well, that's about an hour of work for a senior corporate lawyer.

And, yeah, this should take about an hour...

 

[Lidgar]

Personally , I’m starting to think of J. LaNasa as “Father Griftsmas”.

He’s the grift that keeps on grifting! Hohono…

 

[CleverNickName]

Someone donated just so they could comment on the IndieGoGo to let everyone know that TSR³ dropped the lawsuit.

I was wondering if someone would do that. Because TSR³ didn't update the front page of their fundraiser.

 

[Parmandur]

Personally , I’m starting to think of J. LaNasa as “Father Griftsmas”.

He's not talented enough to merit such a title. That's Cadillac grifter title, and LaNasa is a Yugo.

 

[Vaalingrade]

What the hell am I going to do with all these NuTSR vs. WotC t-shirts I had printed?

Wait about three months for the next try?

 

[Le Noir Faineant]

...What are the rules for the offsetting of losses (English?) for secondary and gig jobs in Illinois and Minnesota?

Unless more coke is passed around at TSR 3.0 business meetings than in an average scene of "The Wolf of Wall Street", then the only reasonable conclusion after watching this unfold is that they're making money in the backrooms. (Or, looking to set up the Etsy shop from hell in a very distant and economically disregardable future, which I find hard to believe, considering all this drama.)