
Iowa Man Files Antitrust Suit Against Nintendo Over Denied Pokémon Professor Certification
An Iowa man, Kyle Owens, sues Nintendo of America and Pokémon Company International in federal court, alleging that denying his Pokémon Professor certification violates the Sherman Act and seeking $341,000 in damages plus restoration of Professor status and access to official tools and events. Owens passed the Professor exam with 100% but failed the background check after it flagged a 2022 arrest warrant; he was later told his score dropped to 80% and he was denied certification. He argues the denial harms competition and consumer access by removing a qualified local host from the official Pokémon Play system; defendants have not yet responded.





