Spribe won a key legal battle after the UK High Court granted the business an interim injunction preventing Aviator LLC from launching its own version of the Aviator game.
Crash games pioneer Spribe won a key legal battle on Friday (1 August) after the UK High Court granted the business an interim injunction preventing Aviator LLC from launching its own version of the Aviator game.
Aviator LLC, owned by ex-Adjarabet owner and Georgian businessman Temur Ugulava, has sued Spribe in various jurisdictions alleging it is the actual owner of the Aviator crash game, one of the most successful worldwide iGaming products in recent years.
The Georgian business recently announced its intention to release what Spribe described as a “copycat” game in the UK, also branded Aviator, and has also reportedly engaged in promotional communications targeted at the supplier’s UK customers.
Spribe founder David Natroshvili said: “I am pleased that the highly respected UK Court supports our position and has granted an injunction preventing Aviator LLC from launching and promoting its copycat game.
“Spribe created the Aviator crash game in 2018 and is the sole owner of the game globally. We will continue to take all necessary steps globally to protect Spribe, our partners and players from any third parties who seek to undermine or infringe our rights.”
The news is the latest twist in the unfolding legal dispute between the two entities, which has seen lawsuits filed in multiple jurisdictions.
Leading online gaming business Flutter Entertainment, which purchased a 51% stake in Adjarabet in 2019, separately settled its Aviator dispute at the beginning of the year.
Spribe: Aviator LLC provided ‘contradictory and conflicting’ evidence
In a statement supplied to NEXT.io, Spribe said Aviator LLC had provided “contradictory and conflicting” evidence.
The company added that Aviator LLC sought to evade responsibility for this matter at the hearing and attempted to misdirect the UK court by obscuring its role through the creation of a shifting network of licensing entities.
Aviator LLC also allegedly denied its previously stated plans to enter the UK market and refused to provide key evidence, with the court reportedly describing this conduct as “childlike” and “petulant”.
Spribe argued Aviator LLC’s activity forms just part of a continuing chain of bad faith actions by the Georgian businessman, which it claimed has been done with the aim of exploiting the commercial success and international reputation of its brand.
The company said “unfounded and opportunistic” claims were launched in Georgian courts last year that sought to expropriate the Aviator branding and logo used by Spribe, which would only have applied within the territory of Georgia itself.
Supplier slams ‘bogus’ claims
Spribe added: “The flawed Georgian ruling followed an unusually rapid and procedurally flawed legal process in a jurisdiction where concerns around judicial independence and transparency have been widely documented.
“Spribe continues firmly to reject these claims brought by Aviator LLC, which related solely to the use of a specific logo and branding in Georgia and did not concern ownership of the Aviator game itself. Spribe’s trademarks remain valid and protected outside of Georgia, including in the EU and UK.
“Spribe is aware that Aviator LLC and companies affiliated to it (such as Aviator Studio Group or AviGroup) have directly contacted Spribe customers, falsely claiming to be the owner of the intellectual property rights in the branding of Spribe’s Aviator game, whilst at the same time promoting their own copycat version of it.
“These claims are bogus. The Aviator game, including its features, branding and intellectual property, are entirely created and owned by Spibe. Spribe will continue to take all necessary steps to defend its rights against any third parties who seek to undermine or infringe them.
“Aviator LLC has also sought to use the flawed ruling in Georgia to launch spurious proceedings elsewhere. Such claims are without merit and will be vigorously defended.”