Monitors of the counter-action by Wizards of the Coast against TSR are sharing screengrabs of the latest filing. It shows that WotC’s lawyers are staying their action due to TSR filing for bankruptcy.
It’s a messy case that started when the TSR trademark was snatched up, forged into an RPG publisher, and sued Wizards of the Coast. The ‘NuTSR’ claims seemed to be that Wizards of the Coast had created the confusion around the name and that the statements on scans of original TSR D&D books on DriveThruRPG remind buyers that the game books were written years ago when society was different, were embarrassing.
TSR seemed to go through several civil wars, transform itself several times (TSR 3, TSR 3.5, TSR 4, etc) and eventually dropped the crowdfunding campaign they had started to collect donations from supporters to pay for legal fees. What happened to that money is unknown.
However, it quickly became apparent that TSR had filed their case in the wrong court and had had to agree they were unaware of any possible trademark confusion before securing their paperwork and launching their case about confusion.
Wizards of the Coast eventually counter-sued.
If TSR is in bankruptcy or a legal state of protection due to a financial crisis, the company may well return. It may also not end the legal case against those involved, as Wizards of the Coast may feel their brands and IP have been tarnished by TSR’s behaviour.
TSR started the conflict by making a legal issue out of what they found awkward and embarrassing. Many will feel the whole situation has been awkward and embarrassing.
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