Flutter to Appeal Georgian Court’s $330m Ruling in Aviator Trademark Case
Flutter has announced its intention to appeal a recent ruling by Georgian courts in a copyright and trademark infringement case involving Spribe OÜ and Flutter-owned Adjarabet.
Overview of the Case
The case centers around the use of the popular Aviator crash game, developed by Spribe.
Aviator LLC filed a lawsuit alleging that Spribe OÜ and Adjarabet, which was acquired by Flutter in 2019, had infringed upon their trademark and copyright.
The Georgian court ruled in favor of Aviator LLC, finding that the trademark registrations by Spribe were made in bad faith and that the game’s use constituted a violation of intellectual property rights.
Significant Financial Repercussions
As a result of the ruling, the court ordered Flutter and Spribe to pay $330 million in damages to Aviator LLC.
This substantial financial penalty has drawn criticism from Flutter, which described the damages as “egregious in nature” and argued that the amount does not reflect the actual economic impact of the property in dispute.
Flutter’s Response and Appeal
In response to the ruling, Flutter has declared its intent to appeal, indicating that it strongly disagrees with both the judgment and the damages awarded.
In a statement, the company emphasized its stance, stating: “The level of damages sought is egregious in nature and bears no resemblance to the actual economics of the property under debate.”
Legal Representation and Further Developments
Nikoloz Gogilidze, Managing Partner of Mikadze Gegetchkori Taktakishvili LLC, the law firm representing Aviator LLC, expressed satisfaction with the court’s decision, noting the firm’s commitment to protecting their client’s intellectual property rights.
Gogilidze stated, “We are pleased with the outcome of the court’s ruling on this claim, and we will continue to aggressively protect our client’s intellectual property from unlicensed use on any international gaming platforms.”
As Flutter prepares to appeal, the case is likely to draw significant attention within the gaming industry, given the substantial damages involved and the implications for intellectual property enforcement in international markets.
