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).


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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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I am far less likely to side with a big corporation, and I personally know people who were robbed of intellectual property by game companies. However, I know this because those companies published their ill-gotten products. Do corporations engage in smear and propaganda campaigns against their rivals? Absolutely. However, I would be more sympathetic to TSR if they were publishing products. First prove to me that you're an actual game company.
 



Mort

Legend
Supporter
The fundraiser is probably actually to pay for setting up new LLCs. LaNasa has filed for about a hundred of them over the past couple years.

Only slight hyperbole lol.
Is it a violation of the sites terms to use the funds for something other than advertised?

Seems like that would be an pretty big no-no!
 


Ancalagon

Dusty Dragon
I am far less likely to side with a big corporation, and I personally know people who were robbed of intellectual property by game companies. However, I know this because those companies published their ill-gotten products. Do corporations engage in smear and propaganda campaigns against their rivals? Absolutely. However, I would be more sympathetic to TSR if they were publishing products. First prove to me that you're an actual game company.
I would be far more sympathetic to TSR if they hadn't made transphobic statements or tried to use the culture war as a way to gather support.
 


Levistus's_Leviathan

5e Freelancer
I would be far more sympathetic to TSR if they hadn't made transphobic statements or tried to use the culture war as a way to gather support.
Exactly. I don't care at all if they're an actual gaming company. There's plenty of awful gaming companies and game-producers out there. I don't care if the company has legitimate products, I care whether or not they're awful people. TheRPGPundit has produced real products. He's a game designer. However, he's a bigoted douchebag catering towards a crowd of bigoted gatekeepers, so I don't give him my money. It doesn't matter if NuTSR has produced real products (they haven't), because what matters more to me is whether or not they are terrible people pandering to a terrible crowd.
 


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