Pablo Escobar's Brother Tried Trademarking Late Colombian Drug Lord's Name, European Court Says No

Pablo Escobar may be Colombia's most notorious drug lord ever, but that did not stop his brother from trying to cash in on his name by trademarking it. However, an EU court rejected the notion, ruling that the names of slain drug kingpins like Escobar cannot be trademarked, even by direct family.

Pablo Escobar's brother Roberto de Jesús Escobar Gaviria, founded Escobar Inc, a tech company that makes smartphones and also sells cryptocurrency called Escobar Cash. However, the European Court of Justice ruled on Wednesday that he cannot copyright his infamous brother's name.

EU's intellectual property office (EUIPO) previously refused a trademark application by Escobar Inc. in 2022, with the European Court of Justice upholding that ruling, stating, "EUIPO correctly found that those persons would associate the name of Pablo Escobar with drug trafficking and narco-terrorism and with the crimes and suffering resulting therefrom, rather than with his possible good deeds in favor of the poor in Colombia."

The Escobar brother, who was imprisoned for 12 years due to his role in the notorious Medellin Cartel, was planning to launch a foldable smartphone called the Escobar Fold 1, per Reuters. However, the name may not be able to stand as the company tries to break into the European market.

Pablo Escobar was once the head of the Medellin Cartel, with his brother, Roberto de Jesús Escobar Gaviria, being one of its most important leaders. Their drug organization was responsible for thousands of deaths across Colombia. The drug kingpin was killed by Colombian security forces in Medellin in 1993, signaling the fall of one of the biggest narco empires on Earth.

EU Initially Rejected 'Pablo Escobar' Trademark on the Grounds of 'Morality'

Escobar Inc. specifically tried to trademark the name "Pablo Escobar" in the European Union for various goods and services. However, the EUIPO rejected the application, ruling that this was contrary "to accepted principles of morality." This led the company, led by Escobar's brother, to appeal, leading to the court battle.

The ruling added that the trademark would be perceived as being against the "fundamental values and moral standards" in the EU member state, Spain, where Escobar is publicly perceived "as a symbol of organized crime responsible for numerous crimes."

Pablo Escobar Still Considered One of the World's Most Notorious Drug Lords

Despite his death happening over 30 years ago, Pablo Escobar's infamous legacy remains, not just in his home country of Colombia, but in many parts of the world, including Spain which was used to block the trademark of his name.

With his "cocaine hippos" running rampant in the rivers near Medellin, as well as him being portrayed in the Netflix hit series, "Narcos," Pablo Escobar's infamy has shown that it still has some staying power, even though the Medellin Cartel has long been disbanded.

According to The Mob Museum, Escobar lived a high life. However, he rose through the bellies of the criminal underworld to do so. He started with petty crimes such as small-time theft, before going up to smuggling and marijuana dealing. Eventually, he became the most wanted man in the world as the head of the deadliest cartel in all of Colombia.

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Rick Martin

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