Pok¨¦mon lawyers pursue party-planning Pok¨¦fan for $4k payout
Community covers charges after crowd-funding campaign.
The Pokémon Company International has demanded $4000 in damages from a fan who advertised a Poké-themed party.
Lawyers for The Pokémon Company contacted Ramar Larkin Jones, from Seattle, Washington, after the gaming fan had planned his Poké-themed bash on Facebook.
His advert featured pocket monster mascot Pikachu and popular character Snivy.
Jones quickly cancelled the event - the Fifth Annual Unofficial Pokémon PAX Kickoff Party - in response to the legal threat (thanks, Geekwire).
But The Pokémon Company has continued to insist he pay the fine.
Not having $4000 himself, Jones turned to the Pokémon community for help and, in three days, his GoFundMe campaign has raised the necessary cash.
"Hi, I'm Larkin Jones and I'm being sued by Pokémon," his fundraising page reads. "I'm a video gamer, huge Pokémon fan and over all a huge geek.
"The day before the PAX party, Pokémon sued me. Without even a cease and desist. Totally didn't expect that. Pokémon 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."
It was the first time Jones had encountered any resistance to the unofficial event, despite it being held annually since 2011.
Jones has also insisted that he stood to make a loss on the party, as he did every year. Ticket prices were set at $2 to help cover cosplay prizes and the event's DJ.
The lawsuit, embedded below, complains that "defendants have incorporated infringing copies of Pikachu and Snivy into their poster for the '5th Annual Unofficial Pokemon PAX Kickoff Party,' and are publicly displaying that poster.
"Defendants boast that the '5th Annual Unofficial Pokemon PAX Kickoff Party' will feature among other things, 'Pokémon themed shots and drinks - Smash Bros. Tournament with cash prize - Dancing - Giveaways - Cosplay Contest and more,' and an 'AMAZIN POKEMON MASHUP'."
We've contacted The Pokémon Company International for comment and will update if we hear back.
"Trust me I will never throw another fandom party again," Jones concluded.