Man Sues Nintendo And The Pokémon Company After Pokémon Professor Rejection
A Pokémon fan in Iowa is taking Nintendo and The Pokémon Company to court after being denied one very specific title: Pokémon Professor.
According to Destructoid, 34-year-old Kyle Owens is suing for US$341,000 after Pokémon Company International declined to recognise him under its official Pokémon Professor Program. On paper, that sounds like some meme-level “I want to be the very best” situation, but the actual programme is real and fairly important to the organised Pokémon scene.
The Pokémon Professor Program is part of Play! Pokémon, the official structure behind sanctioned Pokémon events. Professors can help run events as assistants, judges, and ambassadors. They may also get access to programme perks such as Professor Store rewards, exclusive competitions, and Professor-specific merchandise.
More importantly, the role is not just a fancy nickname. For local card shops, community organisers, and tournament scenes, certified Professors can help host official Pokémon Trading Card Game and video game events. That matters because sanctioned play is what keeps competitive communities organised, especially for players trying to build experience before bigger events.
Owens reportedly passed the basic Pokémon Professor exam with a perfect 100 percent score. However, he did not receive the title after failing a background check. Pokémon Company International told him in 2024 that his application had been denied after reviewing the background check results.
Owens claims the rejection was tied to an “old, low-level felony” from more than 10 years ago. The source material also cites Iowa Capital Dispatch, which reported that the matter involved a pending arrest warrant for failing to appear in court on misdemeanor charges, including disorderly conduct by engaging in fighting, possessing, repairing or selling an offensive weapon, and criminal mischief involving property damage.
In the lawsuit, Owens argues that the charges do not show guilty findings. His filing also frames the Professor Program as more than a casual fan club. The suit says the programme operates like a structured certification system, giving successful applicants official status, event tools, permission to host sanctioned card and video-game matches, event locator visibility, and potential commercial benefits through store traffic, product sales, goodwill, and attendance.
That is the part SEA readers should pay attention to, bro. Pokémon TCG has been growing steadily across Malaysia and the region, with more players treating local tournaments as a proper community scene rather than just weekend hobby sessions. For shops and organisers, official recognition can help bring credibility. For parents sending younger players to events, background checks are also part of why these programmes need to be careful.
So while the headline sounds funny at first, the case is really about where fan passion, official tournament certification, community trust, and business opportunity overlap. If a role gives access to event operations and player communities, companies will likely argue they need room to screen applicants properly. On the other side, Owens is arguing that the denial cost him real opportunities despite his exam result.
As of the report, the lawsuit is still waiting for an official response.
Source: Destructoid
