Becoming an official "Pokémon" Professor requires more than expertise in the franchise. In fact, it also demands strict standards of conduct, responsibility, and alignment with official community guidelines. A recent legal case involving an Iowa resident has now placed that certification process under public scrutiny.
Kyle Lee Owens, an applicant from Iowa, reportedly applied to become an officially recognized "Pokémon" Professor but was later rejected after a background check uncovered past legal issues. The situation has since escalated into a lawsuit involving Nintendo and The Pokémon Company.
Background Check Leads to Application Rejection
According to court filings cited in a report from Iowa Capital Dispatch, Owens initially passed the early stages of the "Pokémon" Professor application process. However, he later entered a mandatory onboarding phase that included a detailed background check.
During this review, The Pokémon Company allegedly identified a decade-old low-level felony in Illinois, along with a pending warrant in another state involving misdemeanor charges such as disorderly conduct and property-related offenses.
Following this discovery, his application was revoked on the grounds that it violated the program's eligibility requirements.
Legal Claims and Compensation Request
Owens claims that the rejection resulted in financial losses tied to opportunities such as hosting events, promoting products, and participating in official Pokémon-related activities. His lawsuit seeks approximately $341,000 in damages, as well as reinstatement into the Pokémon Professor program.
He also argues that he was not given a proper opportunity to appeal the decision, despite guidelines that reportedly allow certain disciplinary cases to be reviewed.
The Pokémon Company's code of conduct states that certified Professors must maintain higher ethical and professional standards than general participants, and violations can result in permanent removal from the program.
Debate Over Fairness and Eligibility Standards
According to Polygon, Owens disputes the decision, arguing that the past offenses cited in the background check do not reflect his current character or ability to serve in the role. He also claims that the certification system limits access to competitive and promotional opportunities tied to official Pokémon recognition.
In a past related report, Nintendo issued copyright strikes to popular animator and YouTuber PokéNational Geographic. The content creator said at that time that his channel was on the verge of being deleted after the notice.
Originally published on Player One
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