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.

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