The ruling adds to Spribe’s wider legal campaign to protect the Aviator brand, with parallel proceedings ongoing in the UK and other jurisdictions
Spribe has secured a provisional injunction from the Maltese courts against three companies linked to Aviator Studio over alleged infringement of its Aviator trademarks.
NEXT.io can reveal the First Hall of the Civil Court of Malta issued the ex parte order on 1 September. The court found, on a prima facie basis, that Aviator Studio’s use of its Aviator branding created a likelihood of confusion with Spribe’s EU trademarks.
The order requires Aviator Studio Limited, Aviator Studio Holding Limited and Aviator Studio USA Limited to immediately cease using identical or similar signs to Spribe’s EU trademarks in relation to identical or similar products and services.
It also orders the companies to stop using the aviator.studio website, or any other website featuring an identical or similar trademark, in relation to those products and services.
Court orders Aviator Studio to stop using branding
The injunction relates to two EU trademarks owned by Spribe. The first is a figurative mark with the word ‘Aviator’ and an aircraft image, and the second a multimedia mark covering elements of the Aviator game’s audiovisual presentation.
In reaching its finding, the court highlighted several key points. These included the identical ‘Aviator’ name, similarities between aircraft imagery and the game’s audiovisual sequence, and the fact that the services are offered to the same online gaming audience.
The court also referenced evidence of potential confusion in the market. It pointed out how the two games appeared alongside each other when users searched for ‘Aviator’ on Betsson and EuroCasino, as well as a LuckyStreak listing that appeared to attribute Spribe’s game to Aviator Studios.
The Malta court said the alleged infringement was already taking place in the EU, including through EuroCasino in Malta and Betsson in Sweden and Finland. Aviator Studio Limited had also recently obtained a B2B Critical Supply Licence from the Malta Gaming Authority, which the court said placed it in a position to expand the distribution of its game across Malta and the wider EU.
Spribe founder talks up ‘momentum’ in ongoing legal battle
The Maltese proceedings are the latest move by Spribe to protect its Aviator intellectual property. Spribe is also involved in legal action against entities linked to the brand in other jurisdictions around the world.
Spribe founder David Natroshvili welcomed the Malta court ruling, saying he was “grateful” for the decision.
“This is further momentum for Spribe after several positive outcomes,” he said. “We hope the positive outcomes will continue in October in the UK, where there will be a hearing of our application for a multi-territorial preliminary injunction request.
“We are continuing to take all reasonable steps to protect our creation, the Aviator game, that is enjoyed by customers in Europe and across the world.”
The Malta injunction is, however, provisional, with the Aviator Studio companies entitled to seek a review of the order. Spribe must also commence proceedings leading to a decision on the merits within 31 calendar days of the 1 September order.
Spribe also celebrated the win in Malta in a letter sent to its customers and seen by NEXT.io.
“We are pleased that the highly respected Court of Malta has upheld Spribe’s demands. Spribe, the sole global owner, developed the original Aviator crash game in 2018 and launched global market since 2019,” the supplier wrote.
“Unfortunately, the immense popularity and high quality of Spribe’s Aviator game have led some third parties – including Aviator Studio Companies – to attempt to unlawfully benefit from our reputation and success by developing a copycat game in 2025, seven years after the original game.
“Please be assured that 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.”
Spribe’s wider legal battle
The wider legal battle stretches back to August 2024 when Georgia’s Court of First Instance found that Spribe’s own Georgian trademarks had been registered in bad faith and infringed Aviator LLC’s copyright. This decision was upheld by Georgia’s Supreme Court in May 2025.
However, Spribe has fared better with its legal challenge in the UK. In July 2025, the UK High Court granted it an interim injunction stopping Aviator LLC from launching a rival crash game in Britain. Deputy judge Michael Tappin KC then handed Spribe a procedural win in May of this year, ruling Georgian court findings could not simply be applied under English law alone.
It is not just the UK where Spribe has seen success in its ongoing legal dispute with Aviator over the game. Last month, it was revealed that the Court of First Instance of Curaçao had invalidated two Aviator-branded trademark registrations held by Aviator LLC.