Overview
- Kyle Owens says he scored 100% on the Pokémon Professor basic exam on March 12, 2024 but was told final certification required a background check.
- Court exhibits cited by Owens say the background check flagged a 2022 pending arrest warrant from another state tied to misdemeanor charges.
- The Pokémon Company International told Owens on May 6, 2024 that his application was denied and that his exam score was recorded as 80%, causing a failure.
- Owens filed a federal suit in May 2026 seeking $341,000 and an injunction to force certification, restore access to official Professor tools, and let him host sanctioned events; Nintendo and The Pokémon Company had not yet responded.
- The Pokémon Professor Program certifies volunteers who run and judge official events, and Owens argues barring him removes a qualified local host and harms competition and consumer access in organized play.