Put some respect on Professor Oak’s name: Becoming a Pokémon expert isn’t easy. A man from Iowa named Kyle Lee Owens found this out the hard way, after submitting an application to be an officially designated Pokémon Professor. The Pokémon Company evidently did not feel his credentials were up to snuff, and now the rejection has turned into a legal rigmarole.
As trading card fans might be aware, Pokémon Professors don’t just exist in the pocket monster universe. The Pokémon Company trains people to oversee competitive matches, and the associated job title for this role is Pokémon Professor. There are perks to becoming a teacher, like unique swag and special tournaments.
To become a certified professor, you need to keep up with the game amid its many expansions. Many of the “core values” associated with being a Pokémon Professor are basic things like being honest, being responsible, and having integrity.
Owens passed the initial test to become a Pokémon Professor with flying colors, according to the lawsuit spotted by Iowa Capital Dispatch, and began the onboarding process for the role. As a part of that, Owens was asked to submit to a background check. It was here that The Pokémon Company learned that Owens had a “low-level Illinois felony that was more than ten years old,” and a pending arrest warrant in another state “for failing to appear in court on misdemeanor charges of disorderly conduct by engaging in fighting; possessing, repairing or selling an offensive weapon; and criminal mischief through damage to property,” a court filing states.
The Pokémon Company revoked Owens’ application from the program based on the misdemeanors, the suit alleges.
In the lawsuit, which is aimed at both The Pokémon Company and publisher Nintendo, Owens alleges that he is losing out on the “economic benefits” that come with hosting an event. Among other things, the suit states that Owens no longer has “commercial advantages” such as “product sales.”
Owens is seeking $341,000 in damages, and to be instituted as a Pokémon Professor. The Pokémon Company’s code of conduct states that Professors are held to an even higher standard than average players, and failure to meet those standards can result in removal from the program without a chance to reapply. The terms also state that “the unauthorized buying or selling of items” is against the rules. The lengthy rulebook does, however, note that some disciplinary actions are given an appeals process. Owens argues that he was not given a chance to make his case.
Owens also believes that The Pokémon Company’s decision was unfair, as the failure to appear mentioned in the background check refers to an event that happened a decade ago. He says he was not convicted, and that the incident has no bearing on his ability to be a good Pokémon Professor. The filing also accuses The Pokémon Company of creating a monopoly over organized play of its own game.
“Plaintiff suffered injury including lost certification, lost business opportunity, lost customer traffic, lost goodwill, and consequential damages,” the document reads.
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