Full Breakdown
Iowa Resident Sues Nintendo and The Pokémon Company Over Denied “Professor” Certification
5/20/2026, 7:55:58 PM
Lawsuit Overview: Antitrust Claim and Requested Relief
Kyle Owens, a 34-year-old resident of Laurens, Iowa, filed a federal complaint on May 14 (year varies across reports) in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Iowa. Owens alleges that Nintendo of America and The Pokémon Company International violated federal antitrust law by refusing him certification in the Pokémon Professor Program after he allegedly passed the required exam with a perfect score. He seeks at least $341,000 in damages and an injunction that would (1) grant him Pokémon Professor status, (2) restore access to official event tools, and (3) permit him to host sanctioned Pokémon Trading Card Game and video-game tournaments.
Background: The Pokémon Professor Program
The Pokémon Professor Program, part of the Play! Pokémon organized-play system, certifies volunteers—typically adults—to run official tournaments, leagues, and other events. Certified “Professors” receive a listing in an event-locator database, official support from the companies, and the ability to host matches that can drive foot traffic and product sales for local game stores. The program requires a background check in certain regions to protect younger participants.
Key Figures and Legal Venue
- Kyle Owens – Plaintiff, aspiring Pokémon Professor.
- Nintendo of America – Defendant, parent company of the Pokémon franchise.
- The Pokémon Company International – Defendant, operator of the certification program.
- U.S. District Court, Southern District of Iowa – Venue for the lawsuit.
- Play! Pokémon – The organized-play umbrella under which the Professor program operates.
Data and Claims: Scores, Background Check, and Damages
- Owens asserts he passed the certification exam with a 100 percent score (reported as March 12 2024 in some sources, July 2024 in others).
- The Pokémon Company later notified him that his score had been revised to 80 percent, resulting in a failure.
- A routine background check revealed a pending arrest warrant from another state (2022) and misdemeanor charges for disorderly conduct, possession/repair/sale of an offensive weapon, and criminal mischief. An older low-level felony from more than ten years ago is also cited.
- Owens requests $341,000 in compensatory damages.
Official Statements & Responses
The Pokémon Company International sent a letter on May 6, 2024 stating that Owens’ application was denied after reviewing the background-check results. The letter indicated the score adjustment to 80 percent. Nintendo of America has not issued a public comment.
Criticism & Opposition: Owens’ Antitrust Argument
Owens contends that the denial “reduces competition and harms consumers in his area by limiting official events,” arguing that the certification functions as a gate-keeping mechanism that controls commercial opportunities within the Pokémon ecosystem.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
- Exam date: Reported as March 12 2024 in some accounts and July 2024 in others.
- Score discrepancy: Owens claims an initial 100 percent score; the company later cites an 80 percent result after the background check.
- Filing date: Sources list May 14, 2026 and May 14 (year unspecified).
- Company responses: No comment from Nintendo; only a denial letter from The Pokémon Company is available.
Verbatim Quotes
- “The Pokémon Professor program is not merely recreational.” — Kyle Owens, Plaintiff (complaint)
- “[The program] functions as a structured certification and authorization system, granting official status, access to official event tools, the ability to host sanctioned card and video-game matches, listing in an event locator, and opportunities that generate business traffic, customer attendance, product sales, good will and commercial advantage.” — Kyle Owens, Plaintiff (complaint)
- “Owens contends that blocking him reduces competition and harms consumers in his area by limiting official events.” — Kyle Owens, Plaintiff (complaint)
- “The Pokémon Company International wrote to Owens on May 6, 2024 informing him that his “application to the professor program has been denied after reviewing the results of your background check.” — The Pokémon Company International, Representative (letter to Owens)
- “' The letter also indicated that, as a result, his test score had been revised down to 80%, meaning he was now considered to have failed.” — Kyle Owens, Plaintiff (complaint)
What’s Next
The case is scheduled for pre-trial proceedings in the Southern District of Iowa. Both parties may file motions on the merits of the antitrust claim and the adequacy of the background-check process, after which a trial date will be set.
