Trademark Violation Allegations against American Rapper 2 Chainz By Escobar Inc.

Unlike the previous decades, 2000s witnessed a boom in outdoor leisure activities. It was only during the preceding years new and trendy shopping complexes and restaurants were established. A hike in basic salary figures subsequently gave rise to affordability of people and thus, an opportunity to entrepreneurs to invest in more “Go-out for fun” places. People are too excited to try out that themed café or the one inaugurated by a celebrity or the one that offers the best delicacies in town. Restaurants and café cultures roared and so did the completion in the market. Not very long ago, America’s renowned rapper 2 Chainz unveiled his own restaurant chain named Escobar Restaurant and Tapas. Little did he know, serious fingers shall be pointed at this landing him in a federal trademark lawsuit.  

Indubitably, as soon as we hear the name Escobar, image of the internationally famous drug lord pops up in our mind. This plain reasoning along with usage of Pablo Escobar’s face as the logo of new Atlanta-based restaurants were disfavoured by the drug lord’s family household firm, Escobar Inc.

They alleged, neither did the American rapper, songwriter and basketball player, Tauheed Epps professionally known as 2 Chainz, requested for a formal authorization nor did he inform the estate about using the same. Not simply the name amounted to a trademark violation, but use of Escobar’s image in the restaurants as well as on the official website, social media accounts, merchandise and even on the menu without prior permission.  Moreover, the menu contains dishes like ‘Escobar Crab Cakes’ resembling the narco-trafficker’s name, further violating trademark rights.

In point of fact, the whole of estate named Escobar Inc. was founded and operated by Pablo Escobar till his death in the year 1994. The same was re-incorporated by his brother Robert Escobar in Medellin, Columbia in the year 2014. More than ten trademark registrations were granted by the USPTO post re-incorporation. Thus, allegations were raised pertaining to trademark infringement and trademark dilution. Escobar Inc. is seeking a decree of permanent injunction to restrain 2 Chainz from using the name and image of the drug lord, together with a minimum of $10 million as damages.

These months are surely brutal for the rapper as this is the second blow in a short span. Last month, owing to violation of social distancing norms Georgia state police put a red flag on operations and now this trademark lawsuit.