Kyle Owens, 34, of Laurens, filed the lawsuit in the US District Court for the Southern District of Iowa, alleging anti-trust violations under the Sherman Act.

Owens is seeking $341,000 in damages as well as an order granting him Pokémon Professor certification, restoring access to official programme tools and allowing him to host sanctioned Pokémon events.

According to court filings, Owens was informed on March 12, 2024, that he had passed the basic professor exam with a score of 100 per cent. The notification stated he would still need to complete a background check before joining the programme.

Exhibits filed with the court indicate the background check identified an outstanding 2022 arrest warrant linked to missed court appearances on misdemeanor charges including disorderly conduct, weapons-related offences and criminal mischief.

Pokémon later informed Owens his application had been denied and stated that, following review, his exam score had been determined to be 80 per cent – below the passing threshold.

Owens claims the reasons for rejection changed over time and argues the decision unfairly limited competition by excluding a qualified local event organiser.