Court dismissed $341,000 lawsuit against Nintendo over denial of Pokémon professor status

A federal judge has dismissed a case brought by an Iowa man who demanded $341,000 in compensation from Nintendo and The Pokemon Company after being denied a "Pokemon Professor" certification. The judge called the lawsuit a "completely frivolous waste of the court's time and resources."

Kyle Owens, 34, filed the lawsuit in May, claiming the companies violated federal antitrust laws by preventing him from obtaining official Professor status. Beyond monetary damages, he demanded the court grant him certification, restore his access to official tools and allow him to host sanctioned Pokemon events.

US District Judge Leonard Strand dismissed the case on September 1, finding that Owens had failed to state a valid legal claim.

Owens claimed he scored 100% on the Pokemon Professor exam in March 2024, but certification was still dependent on completing a background check. The report submitted with his lawsuit listed three charges filed in Pennsylvania in 2022 – disorderly conduct, an offense involving weapons, and criminal mischief.

Each charge had a pending warrant issued for failure to appear. Owens argued that the charges did not represent convictions and accused The Pokemon Company of changing its explanation for denying him. He also claimed the rejection cost him business opportunities connected to hosting official events.

Strand was unconvinced by these arguments. The judge called the alleged $341,000 in damages "dubious, if not outright absurd," noting that Pokemon Professors are volunteers who receive only swag, prizes, and points for the Professor Store.

The court also rejected the antitrust argument. According to Strand's ruling, requiring background checks for volunteers involved with a product aimed partly at children was reasonable and did not harm competition.

Owens' remaining claims, including breach of implied contract, promissory estoppel and interference with prospective business opportunities, were also dismissed. The ruling noted that Owens had filed four federal lawsuits within several months, none of which succeeded in establishing valid claims.

The judge warned that any further frivolous filings could result in financial sanctions, starting with the standard civil filing fee and increasing with repeated violations.

It has been a busy year in court for The Pokemon Company. The company is also facing a proposed class-action lawsuit involving a former executive accused of secretly filming people in bathrooms.