The English High Court has imposed new restrictions on the expansion of Aviator LLC’s crash game in three countries as part of it’s ongoing legal dispute with Spribe.
The new ruling allows Spribe to pursue additional claims in nine international markets and reject its application to extend the case to a further 28 countries.
On November 6, Mr. Justice Tappin handed a judgment that sets out interim measures covering rival game’s distribution in Colombia, Romania and Serbia. The main trial also moved to October 2027, bringing the hearing several months ahead of its previously expected early 2028 timetable.
High Court restricts new launches in three markets
Spribe had sought an interim injunction preventing Aviator LLC and associated companies from offering their competing game under the disputed Aviator name and similar aircraft branding in Colombia, Romania and Serbia.
The court instead adopted a more limited approach. Under the proposed order, the defendants will be restricted from launching the game under the disputed branding on additional platforms in those countries. The operators that were offering the game before July 3, 2026 are still able to continue doing so. Aviator LLC and its associated companies will also be permitted to continue supplying those existing partners.
Spribe CEO David Natroshvili said:
We are grateful that the UK High Court has issued a ruling that provides Spribe with further protection, recognising the likely confusion caused by the copycat game. We have invested years into building the Aviator brand and earning the trust of players worldwide. This ruling sends an unequivocal message to copycats: you cannot hide behind borders. We will do our best and continue to protect our game, our brand, and our players from counterfeit attempts. I am incredibly proud of Spribe’s legal team for their intelligent legal strategy and hard work.
Spribe allowed to pursue claims in nine countries
Furthermore, the Court allowed Spribe to expand the counterclaims with respect to passing off or any claims of unfair competition and certain copyright infringement in nine other jurisdictions: Canada, Colombia, Ghana, Italy, Kenya, Mexico, Romania, Serbia, and South Africa.
Spribe claimed that the name of its competitor game, the aircraft pictures, and the whole branding pose a threat of confusion among the consumers in those markets where its Aviator crash game operates. Aviator LLC and its affiliated companies contended the evidences presented concerning the case and also cast doubt on the need to hear the case in the English court regarding the cases concerning foreign markets.
Mr Justice Tappin held that it would be better to deal with the claims in nine countries in the existing English proceedings rather than let these cases go separately in different jurisdictions.
The Court declined to grant the request from Spribe to add the cases from another 28 countries and did not believe that there were enough evidences and the allegations included. Canada and Italy had separate arrangements where Aviator LLC gave the undertaking to provide 28 days’ notice before launching and conducting targeted promotion. The Court also supported the view that at least two weeks’ advance notice of anticipated launches in the other relevant territories, giving Spribe an opportunity to seek further protection.
Spribe presented examples of operators, aggregators and B2B publications allegedly confusing the two games, including cases where its branding was used to promote the rival product. Although there was no direct evidence of consumer confusion, the judge considered it likely.
The latest ruling is not resolving the underlying dispute yet. The main trial is scheduled for October 2027. The preliminary hearing in April 2027 to examine whether earlier Georgian court judgments prevent certain issues from being reconsidered in England.
