So, TSR Inc is back, and Wizards of the Coast is suing them.*
You know, when I first saw that headline, I was ready to get
upset; here (I thought to myself) was another example of a big
corporation stomping on a littler one, in an industry where the
little ones are usually the source of the most imaginative
material. I was ready to be outraged; how dare WotC?
Because - not having read the article yet - I just assumed that
this new TSR had some ties to the old one; it just stood to
reason that it was made up of members of the old crew: might
there be a Blume, Arneson, Gygax, or Greenwood involved? Surely
it was some of the old guard who were trying to revive some of
the old spirit that created such revered licenses as Ravenloft
or Greyhawk, bringing back a bit of the magic and innovation
that seems so lacking from official Wizards of the Coast
products.
Not that it matters. With Hasbro let the trademark lapse, or they
didn't. What you and I think on that is irrelevant. Only the jury's
opinion matters.
On Thu, 15 Sep 2022 09:12:46 -0700, Jibini Kula Tumbili
Kujisalimisha <taustinca@gmail.com> wrote:
Not that it matters. With Hasbro let the trademark lapse, or
they didn't. What you and I think on that is irrelevant. Only
the jury's opinion matters.
As I said, Wizards will have a hard time making their case given
they essentially abandoned the mark. It isn't completely
hopeless, since they were still /using/ the IP, which does give
them some leverage.
(It's not quite the same, but can be thought of a conflict
between a website's previous owner, and someone who swooped in
and grabbed the domain because the first guy was late with his
payments to the registrar. The courts can and have ruled either
way in such cases.)
Still, whichever way it goes in the court of law, I don't think
the discussion on the topic is irrelevant. At the very least it
lets people know that this new "TSR Games" not only has nothing
to do with "Wizards of the Coast", but that they probably don't
want to do business with someone as racist and homobphobic as
LaNasa is reputed to be.
The trademark claim would be far more easily enforced - if they
hadn't screwed it up. But trademarks have to be defended, and have
to be used, and so on. They screwed it up. From what we, the
general public, can see so far, the don't have much of a case.
Still, whichever way it goes in the court of law, I don't think
the discussion on the topic is irrelevant. At the very least it
lets people know that this new "TSR Games" not only has nothing
to do with "Wizards of the Coast", but that they probably don't
want to do business with someone as racist and homobphobic as
LaNasa is reputed to be.
Because, of course, to a lefty, accusations, especially of racism
and homophobis, are automatically 100% accurate at all times,
because it is literally impossible for a lefty to be wrong in any
way. Just ask a lefty.
On Thu, 15 Sep 2022 14:49:37 -0700, Jibini Kula Tumbili
Kujisalimisha <taustinca@gmail.com> wrote:
The trademark claim would be far more easily enforced - if they
hadn't screwed it up. But trademarks have to be defended, and
have to be used, and so on. They screwed it up. From what we,
the general public, can see so far, the don't have much of a
case.
Actually, Wizards /does/ potentially have a case. There's such a
thing as "common law right" to the trademark* if the previous
owner is still using it. In a sense, that use /is/ a continued
defense of that trademark, even if it hasn't the legal
paperwork. It's a harder road to travel, but this is the
argument that WotC is making. Cases have gone either way.
(The TSR mark might be the harder to protect, since I don't
know how much use that gets, but AFAIK there are digital
versions of the original Star Frontiers game that are still
being sold, and if that's the case, those are definitely done
with license from Wizards).
Still, whichever way it goes in the court of law, I don't
think the discussion on the topic is irrelevant. At the very
least it lets people know that this new "TSR Games" not only
has nothing to do with "Wizards of the Coast", but that they
probably don't want to do business with someone as racist and
homobphobic as LaNasa is reputed to be.
Because, of course, to a lefty, accusations, especially of
racism and homophobis, are automatically 100% accurate at all
times, because it is literally impossible for a lefty to be
wrong in any way. Just ask a lefty.
Alright, you got me. It was a pretty good troll too; I was
fooled until the last bit. I give it 4.8 out of 5 bridges on the
trollometer.
But for those actually interested in the topic, here's a quote
from the leaked copy of Star Frontiers New Genesis (please note:
this is THEIR words, not mine):
"* Negro (Sub-race Ulfar) (Humanoid class) - Tall, thick bodied,
dark skinned even purle dark, brown-eye race with large strength
average intelligence, All attributes in the 10+ range except
intelligence which is maximum a +9
* Nordic (Ulfar) (Humanoid Class) tall blonde, blue-eyed race
with exceptional attributes and powers All attributes in the 13+
range"
Note this was from the legal filing submitted by Wizards of the
Coast, so its fairly unlikely to be something they just made up.
They also point out to various transphobic and homophobic
comments in the manuscript that are attributed to LaNasa. So
it's not just unfounded accusations.
Spalls Hurgenson <spallsh...@gmail.com> wrote in news:ups4ihl9a0qvf9pa0...@4ax.com:
So, TSR Inc is back, and Wizards of the Coast is suing them.*
You know, when I first saw that headline, I was ready to get
upset; here (I thought to myself) was another example of a big
corporation stomping on a littler one, in an industry where the
little ones are usually the source of the most imaginative
material. I was ready to be outraged; how dare WotC?
Because - not having read the article yet - I just assumed thatActually, one of the founders is, in fact, Ernie Gygax, Gary's son.
this new TSR had some ties to the old one; it just stood to
reason that it was made up of members of the old crew: might
there be a Blume, Arneson, Gygax, or Greenwood involved? Surely
it was some of the old guard who were trying to revive some of
the old spirit that created such revered licenses as Ravenloft
or Greyhawk, bringing back a bit of the magic and innovation
that seems so lacking from official Wizards of the Coast
products.
Not that it matters. With Hasbro let the trademark lapse, or they
didn't. What you and I think on that is irrelevant. Only the jury's
opinion matters.
--
Terry Austin
"Terry Austin: like the polio vaccine, only with more asshole."
-- David Bilek
On Thursday, September 15, 2022 at 9:12:49 AM UTC-7, Jibini Kula
Tumbili Kujisalimisha wrote:
Spalls Hurgenson <spallsh...@gmail.com> wrote in
news:ups4ihl9a0qvf9pa0...@4ax.com:
Actually, one of the founders is, in fact, Ernie Gygax, Gary's
So, TSR Inc is back, and Wizards of the Coast is suing them.*
You know, when I first saw that headline, I was ready to get
upset; here (I thought to myself) was another example of a
big corporation stomping on a littler one, in an industry
where the little ones are usually the source of the most
imaginative material. I was ready to be outraged; how dare
WotC?
Because - not having read the article yet - I just assumed
that this new TSR had some ties to the old one; it just stood
to reason that it was made up of members of the old crew:
might there be a Blume, Arneson, Gygax, or Greenwood
involved? Surely it was some of the old guard who were trying
to revive some of the old spirit that created such revered
licenses as Ravenloft or Greyhawk, bringing back a bit of the
magic and innovation that seems so lacking from official
Wizards of the Coast products.
son.
I haven't been following really close, but from what I gathered
EG was involved in about name only at the beginning and has
been in very poor health and may not be cognizant enough to
know what's going on.
Though IIRC there was a previous company that included TSR
a part of their name as well that got C&Ds too.
Not that it matters. With Hasbro let the trademark lapse, or
they didn't. What you and I think on that is irrelevant. Only
the jury's opinion matters.
True that.
--
Terry Austin
"Terry Austin: like the polio vaccine, only with more asshole."
-- David Bilek
Hi Terry, good to see our local Troll is still at work when no
one else is even here. It's not a real newsgroup unless it has
at least one. :)
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