TSR Is Back And Looking To Sue WotC For…Reasons?
After months of silence, one of the companies known as TSR is back. And they’re looking to raise funds to “stop Wizards of the Coast.”
If you’re unfamiliar with the strange tale of three TSRs from earlier this year, you might want to brush up. It’s an absolutely dizzying affair of copyright claims, company separations, and three whirlwind weeks that saw contributors distance themselves from the contentious allegations reulsting in TSR getting banned from a series of conventions.
In the following weeks, TSR alleged a “coordinated assault across various channels” being mounted by Wizards of the Coast.
After several weeks of controversy, the company severed ties with Stephen Dinehart and the TSR Games page went from this:
To thisL
The game being promoted in both cases is GiantLands, which is what Wonderfilled Games, complete with misspelled website and all is showing here.
Now, after months of quiet, TSR is back, and once again alleging bullying by Wizards of the Coast. Only now they’ve got an IndieGoGo campaign to raise funds to sue the tabletop giant.
TSR is seeking a “Trademark Declaratory Judgement of Ownership”. Which means they’re essentially looking to get the courts to weigh in on what they allege are their trademarks.
From TSR’s IndieGoGo page:
“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 “libel and slander” they allege seems to be tied to the Legacy Disclaimer that WotC added to earlier D&D products. This includes those created by WotC, like the 4th edition starter set, and products created before WotC acquired D&D, like Oriental Adventures.
The disclaimer reads:
We recognize that some of the legacy content available on this website, does not reflect the values of the Dungeon & 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.
…seems to be in the crosshairs of this current TSR. And TSR is once again being headed by Justin LaNasa and Ernie Gygax Jr. The two claim that the disclaimer, which acknowledges that older content was prejudiced, has somehow “divided the community”.
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— TSR (@Tactical_SRules) December 8, 2021
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The “Stop WotC campaign” page has not listed the basis of their claims as of yet.. And as of 2021, WotC has owned D&D longer than any company that claims the name of TSR.
But the IndieGoGo campaign paints a broad picture of libel and slander, and would have WotC remove the disclaimer:
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!
At press time the campaign had raised $675 out of their asking total of $50,000.
UPDATED 12/9/21
The article has been updated to clarify that TSR Games and Wonderfilled are two distinct companies (Wonderfilled Inc. separated itself from TSR rather than rebrand). Additionally, a comment from TSR Games has indicated that the individual behind the “Twitter account debacle” has not been with the company since the incident.
