An Iowa man is suing Nintendo for $341,000 after he was allegedly denied the title of "Pokémon Professor" due to the results of a background check. Kyle Owens, 34, of Laurens, filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Iowa, accusing Nintendo of America and its affiliate, Pokémon Company International, of violating federal antitrust laws, as reported by KCRG.
Lawsuit Details and Claims
Owens is seeking $341,000 in damages, along with an injunction that would grant him Pokémon Professor certification, access to official tools, and the ability to host Pokémon events. The lawsuit argues that the Pokémon Professor program is not merely recreational but functions as a structured certification system that grants official status, access to event tools, and opportunities to generate business traffic and sales.
Test Score and Background Check
According to court exhibits, Owens was informed on March 12, 2024, that he had passed the professor test with a perfect score of 100 percent. He was told he could proceed with a background check to officially join the program. However, the background check revealed a pending arrest warrant from 2022 in another state, related to misdemeanor charges of disorderly conduct, possessing an offensive weapon, and criminal mischief. On May 6, 2024, Pokémon Company International notified Owens that his application was denied due to the background check results, and his test score was retroactively lowered to 80 percent, causing him to fail.
Owens contends that the initial reason for denial was an old felony charge over a decade old, but later changed to the three misdemeanor charges, which did not result in guilty findings. He argues that by barring him, Nintendo reduces competition and consumer access by eliminating a qualified event host from the official system.
The Independent has reached out to Nintendo and Pokémon Company International for comment.
