Fame and infamy: the trademark challenges

Last month the government of Colombia denied the request of family members to register a trademark for the name (alongside the fingerprint and signature) of the notorious criminal and head of the Medellin drug cartel, Pablo Escobar. For families looking to protect or profit from the name of an (in)famous relative, there is a delicate balancing act between the right of publicity and registering a mark that offends morality.