Tenkar's Tavern: Why is TSR3 Filing Suit over Trademarks it has Already Abandoned or Surrendered?

Thursday, December 9, 2021

Why is TSR3 Filing Suit over Trademarks it has Already Abandoned or Surrendered?

I'll be short and simply include a bunch of links.

In less than 2 weeks, Star Frontiers will be an abandoned trademark, for failure to submit a Statement of Use:

https://www.trademarkelite.com/trademark/trademark-detail/90276506/STAR-FRONTIERS

The Wizard logo? Surrendered 9/7/2021:

https://www.trademarkelite.com/trademark/trademark-detail/90148334/mark

Dragon Medallion? Abandoned 7/28/21:

https://www.trademarkelite.com/trademark/trademark-detail/90148524/TSR

The Game Wizards? Cancelation Pending 12/07/21

https://www.trademarkelite.com/trademark/trademark-detail/90124839/TSR-THE-GAME-WIZARDS

Blackmoor? Abandoned 8/18/21

https://www.trademarkelite.com/trademark/trademark-detail/90276510/BLACKMOOR

TSR as the OSR Logo many of us know? Surrendered 9/7/21

https://www.trademarkelite.com/trademark/trademark-detail/90124287/TSR

Classic Lizardman Logo? Registered, but not the Greg Bell version. This was redrawn by Jeff Dee

https://www.trademarkelite.com/trademark/trademark-detail/90124788/mark

Strangely enough, the actual letters "TSR" weren't filed until 8/19/21. Oversight or plain stupidity, I simply don't know.

https://www.trademarkelite.com/trademark/trademark-detail/90884176/TSR

So, what's the angle TSR3 is working with this legal action? Are they hoping the court will give them the rights to trademarks they've already abandoned? Was this a preemptive action to prevent a filing by WotC? Is this simply a money grab?

Can a Trademark lawyer explain WTF is actually going on? Why defend trademarks you've already abandoned or surrendered?

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7 comments:

andy lDecember 10, 2021 at 12:35 AM
desperate cry for attention to grift via indigogo is my guess.
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VicDecember 10, 2021 at 12:45 AM
I'm totally confused by these actions by the new TSR .

As for the Gygax memorial, take the money Paul Stromberg it comes from gamers.
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Dick McGeeDecember 10, 2021 at 9:41 AM
"Oversight or plain stupidity, I simply don't know."

I vote stupidity, but it's definitely masterclass stupidity, not the plain variety.
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Steve CromptonDecember 10, 2021 at 10:39 AM
I would guess they want to "unabandon" them, with the idea of putting them to use for either merchandising, reprinting old products or making new products and being able to use the old logos on them...
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ILDecember 10, 2021 at 2:42 PM
It does sound like rabble rousing and playing on the name, with no substance to speak of.
ReplyDelete
Replies

Add comment

Why "Swords & Wizardry?"

Believe me when I say I have them all in dead tree format. I have OSRIC in full size, trade paperback and the Player's Guide. I have LL and the AEC (and somewhere OEC, but I can't find it at the moment). Obviously I have Basic Fantasy RPG. Actually, I have the whole available line in print. Way too much Castles & Crusades. We all know my love for the DCC RPG. I even have Dark Dungeons in print, the Delving Deeper boxed set, Astonishing Swordsmen & Sorcerers of Hyperborea. BOTH editions of LotFP's Weird Fantasy and some dead tree copies of the Greyhawk Grognards Adventures Dark & Deep

I am so deep in the OSR when I come up for breath it's for the OSR's cousin, Tunnels & Trolls

So, out of all that, why Swords & Wizardry? Why, when I have been running a AD&D 1e / OSRIC campaign in Rappan Athuk am I using Swords & Wizardry and it's variant, Crypts & Things, for the second campaign? (Actually, now running a S&W Complete campaign, soon to be with multiple groups)

Because the shit works.

It's easy for lapsed gamers to pick up and feel like they haven't lost a step. I can house rule it and it doesn't break. It plays so close to the AD&D of my youth and college years (S&W Complete especially) that it continually surprises me. Just much less rules hopping than I remember. (my God but I can run it nearly without the book)

I grab and pick and steal from just about all OSR and Original resources. They seem to fit into S&W with little fuss. It may be the same with LL and the rest, but for me the ease of use fit's my expectations with S&W.

Even the single saving throw. That took me longer to adjust to, but even that seems like a natural to me now. Don't ask me why, it just does. Maybe it's the simplicity of it. At 45 52, simplicity and flexibility while remaining true to the feel of the original is an OSR hat trick for me ;)

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Thursday, December 9, 2021

Why is TSR3 Filing Suit over Trademarks it has Already Abandoned or Surrendered?

7 comments:

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