An Iowa resident is taking Nintendo to court, claiming they were wrongly denied a position as a “Pokemon Professor” due to issues found during a background check. He’s seeking $341,000 in damages.
Kyle Owens, a 34-year-old resident of Laurens, Iowa, has sued Nintendo of America and The Pokemon Company International in federal court in Iowa.
I was reading on KCRG that someone is suing these companies, claiming they broke federal antitrust laws. They’re asking for $341,000 to cover the damages they’ve suffered.
Owens is requesting the court to require the companies to officially recognize him as a Pokemon Professor, give him back access to the tools he needs for the program, and let him organize official Pokemon events.
The Pokémon Professor program lets fans help run Play! Pokémon events by working as organizers, judges, assistants, and ambassadors. According to a recent lawsuit, program participant Owens argues this isn’t just a hobby. They claim the program provides certified members with valuable resources and commercial advantages, including access to events, customer leads, product sales, and official event listings.
According to Owens, he aced the initial exam for the position on March 12, 2024, achieving a perfect score. But court documents obtained by KCRG reveal he hadn’t finished the required background check to begin the program.
Pokemon fan’s professor status rejected after background check
The background check revealed an outstanding arrest warrant from 2022 in another state. It stemmed from the individual failing to appear in court for minor offenses, such as disturbing the peace, having or fixing a prohibited weapon, and intentionally damaging property.
On May 6, 2024, The Pokémon Company International let Owens know his application was rejected following a review of his background check. The company also said his exam score was 80%, which wasn’t high enough to qualify for the professor position.
Owens points out that the explanation for why his request was denied shifted, and he emphasizes that the minor charges didn’t result in a conviction.
He also argues that the refusal to certify him wasn’t just a personal setback, but it harmed competition and limited options for Pokémon players by eliminating a capable host based in Iowa from the official tournament system.
Nintendo and The Pokemon Company International had not filed a response to the lawsuit.
Read More
- Off Campus Season 1 Soundtrack Guide
- Euphoria Season 3’s New R-Rated Sydney Sweeney Scene Proves The Show Is Trolling Us
- Gold Rate Forecast
- All Golden Ball Locations in Yakuza Kiwami 3 & Dark Ties
- DoorDash responds after customer uses AI to make food look bad and get a refund
- Jon Bernthal Explains Why Marvel Let Him Make The Darkest Punisher Story Ever
- Dutton Ranch Review: Paramount+’s New Western Takes All The Best Parts Of Yellowstone & Makes Them Better
- The 2026 Cannes Film Festival Standing-O-Meter
- Uncovering Financial Fraud with the Power of Networks
- ETH Holders Cash In: Is the Party Over, or Just Getting Started?
2026-05-19 23:18