TSR say they are suing Wizards of the Coast. It’s not the original TSR, as Wizards of the Coast bought that company. This TSR is one of the generations of companies that purchased some of the trademark rights to the brand acronym.
Update: 11th Dec 2021 – Court Papers appear to show that TSR has dismissed the case, but at the time of writing, the Indiegogo campaign to collect money to pay for it is still running.
Update: 12th Dec 2021 – TSR has stated their intent to re-file the case.
Update: 13th Dec 2021 – Wizards of the Coast begin a legal counter-attack on TSR.
A tweet from @Tactical_SRules says;
TSR is suing WOTC for Trademark Declaratory Judgement of Ownership. TSR will also pursue having WOTC remove the legacy content disclaimer placed on TSR based Dungeons & Dragons and other products. 1/2
While this opening tweet said it was one of two, this TSR actually made three comments. The second says;
This disclaimer, along with other articles have served to divide the RPG community, and they are completely unfounded libel. If you have any questions you can reach me here. [email protected]
The third remember to link to the Indiegogo campaign for your money.
Eight backers, at the time of writing, have raised over £500 for the project. The “Support TSR against Wizards of the Coast” project is asking for £37,839, but it uses Indiegogo’s Flexible Goal option, so it’ll take all the money promised, even if that threshold is not met over the next 60 days.
The disclaimer that so upsets this TSR-named company was introduced in 2020. In summary, it calls to attention that the old D&D books were written a long time ago and used terms and phrases that would be considered insensitive today. It doesn’t say the authors were racist. In fact, it says those prejudices were common at the time.
You can read the full text on Geek Native or by visiting one of the old products like Oriental Adventures on the DMsGuild.
It is unclear why this group of people consider themselves involved even after buying the TSR brand. Still, they do also run The Dungeon Hobby Shop Museum which monetises TSR’s history. The Museum is mentioned several times in the campaign pitch video against Wizards of the Coast.
Backers who donate $1,000 to the attack fund against Wizards of the Coast will get the Dungeon Hobby Shop Museum membership, a spinner, and a thank you letter.
TSR, which may be TSR (5), by one counting method is the evolution of TSR (4), having lost Stephen Dinehart and Giantlands who exited the project. TSR had been charging him to use the TSR brand.
Update 10th Dec 21: The original article’s final paragraph included the phrase “having lost Stephen Dinehart and Giantlands who quit the project” and now reads “having lost Stephen Dinehart and Giantlands who exited the project”. The change was made due to a request from TSR, who stated Dinehart was released from his publishing contract.
Update 11th Dec 2021: Court Papers appear to show that TSR has dismissed the case, but at the time of writing, the Indiegogo campaign to collect money to pay for it is still running.
Update: 12th Dec 2021 – TSR has stated their intent to re-file the case. Geek Native has been in dialogue with TSR about updates to the situation throughout this time.
Update: 13th Dec 2021 – Wizards of the Coast begin a legal counter-attack on TSR.
Geek Native has a comment section. You can find it just below here.
TSR. Which TSR?
Ernie Jr. TSR.
Well I’d like to think nobody can be this dumb, So clearly Ernie Jr. knows this lawsuit is D.O.A.
Best assumption to be made is that he’s doing this to drum up publicity via a divisive nothing burger because his New TSR isn’t doing as well as one would hope.
And since the ‘rewards’ for backing are basically the equivalent of a crispy high five. It’s free publicity at that.
Is it just me or does “Backers who donate $1,000 to the attack fund against Wizards of the Coast will get the Dungeon Hobby Shop Museum membership, a spinner, and a thank you letter” sound like a bribe?
It does. A lame one, IMHO. Either that, or the Museum membership fees are unusually high. Or perhaps the thank you letter is written on an ancient parchment…
Clarification: The company calling themselves TSR, LLC absolutely did not purchase any rights, they claimed that certain trademarks had been abandoned by either Wizards (which had purchased the IP from TSR, Inc.) or Top Secret RPG (that company has now rebranded as Solarian, in order to distance themselves from TSR, LLC), and filled trademark registrations. Wizard’s counsel sent TSR, LLC a cease and desist, which is what the legal case is in response to.
Thank you that’s a precise and helpful clarification.
It looks like you are correct.
For the un-initiated, folks should know that trademark rights are not forever and are subject to abandonment if not used. It looks like (new) TSR claimed that trademark as abandoned and registered it. That strategy is within a normal course of an entity picking up a trademark. There is an opposition period before a trademark is accepted and (I would guess) that Wizards did not object. Cancelling a trademark already issued is an difficult battle.