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Notorious?

Notorious: publicly or generally known, as for a particular trait

It's an acceptable usage, though I freely concede I overuse it when 'famous' would be more easily understood.

Ah, OK. Given the negative connotation (at least for its more common usage) I was wondering if there was some Ken Jennings backlash out there that I'd missed.

You might be conflating notorious with "nefarious," which is used when someone is notorious for something bad.

I hate to be one that argues about definitions, but:

generally known and talked of; especially : widely and unfavorably known

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/notorious

You don't have to be famous to be nefarious.

flagrantly wicked or impious : evil

Origin: Latin nefarius, from nefas crime

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nefarious

As in the Duran Duran song

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