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).


zw5pyzcqtfqc7xu2.jpg


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.


 
Last edited:

log in or register to remove this ad


log in or register to remove this ad







Emrico

Adventurer
So now
Not just failing. I would watch for the three things (assuming there isn't a motion to dismiss)-

1. If they just file an answer and affirmative defenses, then they are seeking to make this go away and quickly with a rapid victory.

2. If they include counterclaims, then they are trying to expand this and likely end nuTSR's antics with extreme prejudice.

3. If they include counterclaims and add individuals as counter-defendants, such as LaNasa, then they are trying to end nuTSR's antics with extreme prejudice AND making it very clear that they are aware of his LLC shell games and are making sure he has some skin the litigation. In other words, they're angry and seeking retribution.

(Regarding 3, while normally you'd have to go after the LLC and hope to pierce the corporate veil, which is incredibly unlikely, artful pleading and LaNasa's high profile might allow claims to be brought against him individually that would survive a motion to dismiss.)

Regardless, this should be interesting!
And now Grits LaNaga is spamming Old School FB groups claiming that the stay by WotC means they have cancelled the lawsuit and that NuTSR will win the declaratory judgement. The man does nothing but lie.
 

J.Quondam

CR 1/8
So now

And now Grits LaNaga is spamming Old School FB groups claiming that the stay by WotC means they have cancelled the lawsuit and that NuTSR will win the declaratory judgement. The man does nothing but lie.

I don't know what it actually means, but this was posted a few hours ago on their twitter:

 

CleverNickName

Limit Break Dancing
Well, Tomorrow came and went, and DriveThruRPG is still using that same legacy disclaimer. I noticed it when I was purchasing and downloading my new PDF copy of AC9, Creature Catalog.

I guess they got held up in traffic or something? Looks like we will have to wait until Monday for them to stop WotC.

EDIT: Nope, I stand corrected. The problem wasn't traffic, the problem is that this whole idea was poorly conceived from the beginning, and hasn't improved. Still. Fingers crossed for Monday!
 
Last edited:

Related Articles

Remove ads

Latest threads

Remove ads

AD6_gamerati_skyscraper

Remove ads

Upcoming Releases

Top