If you want to read the legal papers: Click on me! The Pokemon company specifically had an issue with Ramar Larkin using Pikachu, the company's mascot (shown below) and Snivy, the grass starter Pokemon from the Black & White Series.
Shown here is the poster Larkin made to promote his party:
He also used Pikachu to promote his party on Facebook as well. In The Pokemon Company's words: Defendants’ exploitation of the Pikachu and Snivy characters in promotion of the “5th Annual Unofficial Pokemon PAX Kickoff Party” is a direct infringement of The Pokemon Company’s exclusive rights in the Pokémon Works.
The Pokemon company has threatened Larkin with around $5,200 in damages, as a result Larkin shut down the party hoping The Pokemon Company would back down. This is an option they had, that they did not take. Instead they lowered it to $4,000 and gave him 45 days to pay for the damages.
As a result Larkin has made a gofundme page, seen here: https://www.gofundme.com/ng5f2ukk
He states on his page:
Hi im Larkin Jones and I’m being sued by Pokemon
I’m a video gamer, huge Pokemon fan and over all a huge geek. PAX is my absolute favorite time of year. I love the parties, the fandom, cosplay and overall geek spirit that descends on Seattle. This year I tried to throw a Unofficial Pokemon party because why not… it would be fun, I’m a huge fan, I know all my friends are fans and I mostly wanted to geek out and add to the fun parties you can find all over the city.
The day before the PAX party, Pokemon sued me. With
out even a cease and desist.Totally didn’t expect that. I cancelled the party, refunded everyone the 2 dollars I charged to help cover all the prizes I bought for the cosplay contest and smash bros tournament. Pokemon wants $4000 that I just don’t have. I told them I would pay it over a year and they denied that. They want it now with in the next 45 days.
I work in a cafe and I literally don’t have $4000. I wish they would have just sent a cease and desist because I had no problem dropping the party but I just don’t have $4000 to pay in the next 45 days.
So I’m reaching out to the PAX video game community. Anything you can donate would be greatly appreciated. I just want it to be over with and not have it escalate further because I couldn’t pay 4k in 45 days. Trust me I will never throw another fandom party again.
Thank you guys so much in advance.
As of today it took only 117 people to raise $4,148 in 6 days for Larkin to pay The Pokemon Company, this is one mistake Larkin will never make again!
