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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Saracenus

Always In School Gamer
On the LLC front, it really depends on the nature of the LLC. Is it a sole proprietorship, partnership, or with the right additional paperwork structured like a C-Corp (I know the non-business/accounting/legal folks just went into a coma with that opening).

Mainly the LLC structure prevents someone legally going after your personal assets. It acts as a firewall legally so that only the assets of the LLC are vulnerable. So, only money Lanassa or any other individual who is a partner put into the LLC (plus anything "earned" by that LLC) are on the line. It gets more complicated when you have multiple LLCs nested in one another (sharing a single Tax ID for example).

For example, TTRPG Alpha, LLC is the parent entity and TTRPG Beta, LLC is a Doing Business As (DBA) entity for TTRPG Alpha, LLC. Both share a single Tax ID and file their taxes together but have separate bank accounts, asset listings, depreciation schedules, etc. Technically Alpha is not protected from any action against Beta, but if you then create another DBA entity TTRPG, Charlie that shares Alpha's Tax ID, it would protect its assets from any action against Beta. Think of Alpha as a parent company like Hasbro is to the Beta, WotC.

Glad I could help your head aches along... This is the end of my TED talk.
 

Cadence

Legend
Supporter
Mainly the LLC structure prevents someone legally going after your personal assets. It acts as a firewall legally so that only the assets of the LLC are vulnerable. So, only money Lanassa or any other individual who is a partner put into the LLC (plus anything "earned" by that LLC) are on the line. It gets more complicated when you have multiple LLCs nested in one another (sharing a single Tax ID for example).
Is it correct that LLC structure only protects you if you are doing a good faith effort to follow all of the legal requirements? (So, lying on paperwork, or about what safety standards your following, or the like might leave you vulnerable?).
 

Yeah, I would have thought they'd at least have waited to have a book or two to sell before doing all this nonsense.
Ah, but they do claim they have a product, Star Frontiers; New Genesis. The product that has no ISBN, no reviews, and only a couple of leaked pictures of a spiral bound front cover and a few race portraits. You know, the one that was sold out the same day it went on sale and no one I've heard of that has bought it. (And I know people who were waiting to buy it just in case it was any good.)
 


Is it correct that LLC structure only protects you if you are doing a good faith effort to follow all of the legal requirements? (So, lying on paperwork, or about what safety standards your following, or the like might leave you vulnerable?).
Yes, in theory. But even when you completely misuse the limited liability structure it creates a stumbling block of additional things that need to be proved to get to personal liability for the owners in their capacity as owners.

Whether someone is personally liable for things they do as an officer or employee of an LLC is another issue.
 





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