Because he was not awarded the unofficial academic title, an American is now planning to simply sue for it.
Becoming a Pokémon Professor sounds like a childhood dream for many fans at first. Sure, first and foremost, we all wanted to become Pokémon Masters, of course, but the lives of professors like Oak, Elm, or Sycamore sound way more chill in the end. Traveling around, spending time with Pokémon, handing out starter Pokémon to new, ambitious Trainers, flirting with Ash’s mom... uh... never mind...
But even in the real world, the title of Pokémon Professor comes with benefits. Benefits that are apparently so desirable that they recently led to a lawsuit in the USA – where else?
American Wants To Become A Pokémon Professor
34-year-old Kyle Owens is suing Nintendo and The Pokémon Company because he was not accepted into the official Pokémon Professor Program.
This is not just some fun title, but an actual role within the organized Pokémon Play program. Pokémon Professors help at official events, support tournaments, take on tasks as judges or organizers, and are therefore an important part of the community surrounding the Pokémon Trading Card Game.
On top of that, they have access to an exclusive Professor Shop, where they can buy items that are not simply available to ordinary people – something Owens also wanted to claim for himself.
Application Fails Due To Criminal History
That is why he submitted his application through the official website in 2024. He is said to have initially passed the actual test very successfully. The issue apparently only came up afterward: During a background check, previous allegations and legal problems were found.
Among other things, the case is said to involve minor offenses, including a public fight, unlawful carrying of a weapon, and property damage. There is also reportedly an outstanding arrest warrant because Owens allegedly failed to appear in court in one case.
Owens himself apparently sees the decision as unfair. He argues that the incidents happened a long time ago and that he was never convicted. From his perspective, the rejection not only has personal consequences, but also economic ones. After all, anyone who is not an official Pokémon Professor cannot host certain Pokémon events, or can only do so with restrictions.
This can be especially relevant for local card shops or community organizers, because official tournaments attract players and can therefore also generate revenue.
Man Sues Nintendo For $340,000
Owens is therefore now demanding $340,000 in damages. In addition, he apparently still wants to be admitted as a Pokémon Professor. His lawsuit is directed against Nintendo and The Pokémon Company. So far, however, there has been no public response from either company.
At first glance, the case almost sounds like a bizarre gaming headline: A man sues Nintendo because he is not allowed to become a Pokémon Professor. But there is a bigger point behind it. Official programs like the Pokémon Organized Play system control who is allowed to host events, who gets access to certain community structures, and who is officially allowed to work with the brand.
For fans, it is a volunteer role or hobby. But for shops and local organizers, it can also be a real economic factor.
Whether Owens will succeed with his lawsuit remains to be seen. What is clear, however, is that the case shows how serious even seemingly harmless community titles can become once trademark rights, official event structures, and potential revenue are tied to them – although, in a pinch, he could always apply to Team Rocket instead, where his background probably would not be a problem either.