Green Ronin Publishing Launches Go Fund Me Campaign to Fight for Its Inventory

In a development that has sent shockwaves through the independent publishing community, Green Ronin Publishing, the award-winning tabletop RPG publisher known for titles like The Expanse RPG and the upcoming The Fifth Season RPG, has launched a Go Fund Me campaign to cover legal fees. The campaign aims to help the company reclaim its inventory from Diamond Comic Distributors, which recently filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.

This isn’t just a matter of lost sales; it’s a critical legal battle that could have severe repercussions for Green Ronin and over 100 other independent publishers.

The Heart of the Dispute: Consigned Inventory

The core of the issue lies in “consigned inventory.” Many publishers, including Green Ronin, supply their products to distributors like Diamond on a consignment basis. This means the publisher retains ownership of the goods until they are sold to a customer. The distributor acts as a middleman, taking a percentage of the sale.

However, as part of its bankruptcy proceedings, Diamond Comic Distributors has filed a motion to claim ownership of this consigned inventory. Their argument is that these publishers did not “satisfy the requirements under applicable law to perfect their interests” in the inventory, essentially claiming a legal technicality allows Diamond to take title to the stock. If successful, Diamond could then liquidate this inventory to pay off its largest creditors, leaving the original publishers, who still own the product and have not been paid for it, with nothing.

According to Nicole Lindroos, co-owner of Green Ronin Publishing, this amounts to “several hundreds of thousands of dollars” worth of their product alone. This stock, which they still own, is now at risk of being sold off to cover Diamond’s debts, primarily to banks.

A Dire Situation for Independent Publishers

Green Ronin is not alone in this predicament. Over 100 independent publishers, including other prominent tabletop RPG companies like Paizo and Goodman Games, are facing similar challenges. The timing couldn’t be worse, as Green Ronin was preparing for Gen Con, one of the biggest annual events for tabletop gaming, where they had committed significant funds for new products and booth space.

Beyond the immediate financial threat of losing inventory and unpaid sales, Diamond’s bankruptcy also means Green Ronin has lost its book trade distributor, a key channel for sales, especially for their literary licensed games like The Expanse and The Fifth Season. Finding a new partner will take time, further impacting their business.

Fighting Back: The Go Fund Me Campaign

To combat Diamond’s claim and protect their assets, Green Ronin Publishing has initiated a Go Fund Me campaign. The funds raised will be directly used to cover the escalating legal fees associated with fighting this claim in bankruptcy court. This includes attorney retainers, court filing fees, and the costs of pursuing every possible avenue to recover their inventory.

A court hearing is scheduled for July 21st in the Baltimore Bankruptcy Court to hear objections from the affected vendors. This gives Green Ronin and other publishers precious little time to prepare their legal arguments.

How You Can Help

The tabletop gaming community has a history of rallying behind its creators. If you’re a fan of Green Ronin Publishing’s work or believe in supporting independent publishers against such challenges, consider contributing to their legal defense fund. Even if direct financial support isn’t possible, spreading awareness of their situation can make a significant difference.

This legal battle highlights the complex and often precarious nature of distribution in the publishing world. Green Ronin Publishing’s fight is not just for their own survival, but for the principle of protecting creators’ rights in the face of corporate bankruptcy.