Spribe Scores Another Win in Fight Against Aviator Copycats

Did you know that the original Aviator game and Aviator Studio are not only completely different things, but are actually opposing sides in a high-profile court case in Malta? Spribe, the creators of the OG Aviator game, took Aviator Studio to the First Hall of the Civil Court of Malta. They claimed that the studio deliberately stepped on its trademark toes to confuse audiences into thinking it was them who made the world-renowned crash game.

As per the September 1 ruling, the Judge took Spribe’s side. The court decided that Aviator Studio’s branding and game were way too similar to Spribe’s OG Aviator. Although the ruling is provisional, it puffs the wind into Spribe’s sails and encourages the provider to pursue legal cases against other Aviator lookalikes.

The Evidence Was Right There

The key piece of evidence for confusion between Aviator and Aviator Studios was presented using casino sites themselves. Platforms like Betsson or EuroCasino had both games side by side, logos and all. Unsuspecting players could be excused for choosing one Aviator game over the other.

What’s even worse, and you can’t make this up, LuckyStreak casino actually had Spribe’s original game listed as made by Aviator Studio. Therefore, in the court’s eyes, the confusion is the reality on the field, not just theoretical conjecture.

More than just making an indictment against Aviator Studios, the Judge went on to define which elements of Aviator the game belong to Spribe. That would be the name itself, the stylized logo of the Aviator plane, and even the swish audio sequence the plane makes when it takes off.

Next Stop: The UK

Spribe founder David Natroshvili expressed his gratitude for the ruling. He framed it as a necessary step for protecting the Aviator trademark against Aviator Studio, which has its game on offer in several legal markets across Europe.

He also confirmed that Spribe has a bigger fish to fry this fall. The provider is battling a multi-territorial battle in the UK court, with another important stage of the case set to take place in October.

Spribe Has Been Here Before

This is not Spribe’s first legal rodeo. Ever since Aviator took off in 2018, the company has been battling left, right and center to protect its trademark.

And it’s not exactly surprising. Aviator single-handedly pushed the crash-game format into the mainstream and helped define the new genre. With that success came plenty of attention, and not all of it good, and not all of it from players and operators.

Over the years, Spribe has found itself defending the Aviator name and identity in several legal battles. Their argument is that other providers have gone beyond simply borrowing the crash-game concept and started getting too close to the brand itself.

One of the biggest battles has been in Georgia, where the dispute between Spribe and Aviator LLC has already produced some major court decisions and a hefty damages claim. The fight later moved into the UK, where Spribe secured an interim injunction against Aviator LLC while the wider case continues.

Now Malta has joined the list. And considering how crowded the crash-game market has become, it’s unlikely this will be the last time Spribe finds itself having to defend that line.

The Heavy Burden of Originality

Aviator helped turn crash games into a global casino phenomenon, and with that success came plenty of attention from competitors. Spribe clearly believes that protecting the name, look and feel of its game is part of protecting what it created and is willing to strap on and get down to business.