Legal Battle Escalates Between Aviator LLC and Spribe OU Over Trademark Rights
Aviator LLC has initiated legal proceedings against Spribe OU at the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO), intensifying their ongoing dispute over the rights to the popular casino game Aviator.
Filing Against Spribe OU at EUIPO
Aviator LLC is challenging Spribe OU’s trademarks in the EU, alleging bad faith registration and violation of its copyright. This legal move comes after Aviator LLC secured a $330 million claim against Spribe OU and Flutter Entertainment-owned Adjarabet in Georgia’s Court of First Instance.
The conflict dates back to 2022 when all intellectual property related to the Aviator trademark and logo was transferred from City Loft to Aviator LLC. The company claims that Spribe OU wrongfully used the Aviator name and logo, leading to the legal confrontation.
Legal Victory in Georgia
In August, the Georgian court ruled in favor of Aviator LLC, marking the company’s first legal victory in this dispute. The court found that Spribe OU and Adjarabet had infringed upon Aviator LLC’s trademarks and copyrights.
“The EUIPO action represents the logical continuation of this dispute following the court’s decision,” said Nikoloz Gogilidze, Managing Partner at Mikadze Gegetchkori Taktakishvili LLC, which represents Aviator LLC.
“Our client is strongly committed to aggressively protecting its IP rights worldwide. Hence, after obtaining the first victory in Georgia where the initial infringement took place, the next step is to challenge Spribe OU trademarks worldwide.”
Challenging Spribe’s Trademarks
The invalidation action targets Spribe OU’s trademarks covering goods and services in classes 09 and 41, which include computer software and gambling services. Aviator LLC alleges that Spribe registered the trademarks in bad faith and in violation of existing agreements.
As the case proceeds in the European Union, both companies are expected to present further arguments regarding the ownership and use of the Aviator brand. The outcome could have significant repercussions for online gaming operators utilizing the contested trademarks.
The EUIPO will review the invalidation action filed by Aviator LLC. A decision in favor of Aviator LLC could impact Spribe OU’s ability to use the Aviator trademarks within the EU, potentially affecting their operations and partnerships.
