Photo: Netflix
I can admit that I have never seen a single minute of the big Netflix hit Narcos, but three seasons in and it’s clear that the show has plenty of fans. And since the show is so popular and doing well one member of the Escobar clan thinks he deserves a piece of all that. That member? Roberto De Jesus Escobar Gaviria — Pablo Escobar’s 71-year-old brother.
Roberto is telling Netflix that he will “close their little show” if he doesn’t get $1 billion paid to his company, Escobar Inc., for intellectual property violations.
According to Hollywood Reporter:
Narcos Productions, LLC (NPL) — the company behind the series and its popular video game spinoff Narcos: Cartel Wars — contend that without NPL’s “knowledge or consent, on Aug. 20, 2016, Escobar filed use-based applications to register the marks NARCOS and CARTEL WARS with the [U.S. Patent and Trademark Office] covering a range of goods and services.”
Those services include everything from “downloadable ring tones” and “sunglasses, decorative magnets” to “temporary tattoos, bookmarks and sheet music,” according to the trademark application documents included with the letter.
Here’s what Roberto had to say:
“I don’t want Netflix or any other film production company to film any movies in Medellin or Colombia that relates to me or my brother Pablo without authorization from Escobar Inc. It is very dangerous. Especially without our blessing. This is my country.”
So what did Netflix, a company that is worth over $60 billion, do? They reeled in their own layers and threatened to retaliate by suing the Escobar family.
And currently both sides are trying to hash things out. But I feel like you’ll be seeing plenty more Narcos seasons in the future. Just a gut feeling. If not, at least we’ll get another ten seasons of Stranger Things I’m sure.
