After Pokémon store loses $100k in robbery, Nintendo tells owner to change its name

In January, a New York City Pokémon store made headlines after becoming a target of an armed robbery. Thieves made off with approximately $100,000 worth of cards and merchandise. While the shop remains open, the retailer formerly known as the Poké Court has a new name. As it turns out, Nintendo asked its owner to make the change, presumably due to trademark concerns.

Kotaku reported that, now known as The Trainer Court, the business posted an update for customers on its website and Instagram:

The short story is that Nintendo reached out to us with concerns about our name and logo. As we also have some new and exciting things planned for this year, we’ve decided to take this opportunity to evolve.

In addition to using trademarked branding, the Pokémon store previously displayed a Poké Ball in its logo. Its new green-and-white sign should avoid any confusion. Otherwise, The Trainer Court will sell the same Pokémon TCG cards and other collectibles, with more community events scheduled.

Nintendo’s request that the retailer rebrand is drawing mixed reactions. On the one hand, copyrights held by Nintendo, Game Freak, and Creatures Inc. include the “Poké” prefix . Having a Poké Ball in signage also risks drawing the ire of these companies. Yet, many shops use these properties without drawing the same attention.

Without media attention, a name change was unlikely

Unfortunately for The Trainer Court, the brazen robbery put the business on Nintendo’s radar. Regardless, some fans believe that a different response was in order. Even though online sales have become the dominant way to purchase collectibles, local stores continue to promote the IP. Along with seeking a name change, the gaming giant could have offered to restock the retailer with rare merchandise.

The gaming giant has looked equally unsympathetic when pursuing Pokémon-related lawsuits. Most notably, The Pokémon Company targeted Palworld developers over alleged patent infringement. Its claims revolve around Pocketpair showcasing familiar gameplay in its open-world survival title. However, critics argue that some mechanics are too generic to be protected.