High Court in the UK issues a temporary restraining order in favor of SPRIBE in the legal disagreement regarding the Aviator game.
In a significant development, the UK High Court has granted an interim injunction to SPRIBE, a popular game developer, against Aviator LLC, a Georgian company, over the latter's plans to release a game named Aviator. SPRIBE claims that the game is a copycat of its own Aviator game, which has enjoyed resounding success and is the sole property of SPRIBE globally.
The interim injunction, effective from August 1, 2025, prevents Aviator LLC from engaging in marketing activities or launching the copycat game in the UK. This temporary block aims to protect SPRIBE's intellectual property and avoid potential losses or reputational risks.
David Natroshvili, SPRIBE's Founder, expressed his excitement about the latest accomplishment in the lawsuit against Aviator LLC. He also emphasised that SPRIBE will continue to take all necessary steps globally to protect its intellectual property and partners from infringement.
SPRIBE alleges that the copycat game blatantly infringes on copyright works owned by SPRIBE in its Aviator game. The UK High Court's decision supports SPRIBE's claim, but it's important to note that no final judgment on copyright ownership or infringement has been made yet.
Aviator LLC, however, disputes the characterisation of the injunction as a final victory for SPRIBE. The Georgian company states that the injunction is a limited procedural order with no final legal or commercial impact and that the court did not rule on the actual ownership or merit of the copyright claims. Aviator LLC is actively contesting SPRIBE’s claims and seeking to invalidate SPRIBE’s trademarks, while SPRIBE has counterclaimed for "passing off" and other protections.
This means the legal conflict is currently paused in the UK market by the injunction but far from resolved. Further court proceedings will determine substantive IP rights. The ongoing dispute underscores the importance of intellectual property protection in the competitive gaming industry.
References:
[1] BBC News. (2025). SPRIBE secures interim injunction against Aviator LLC over copycat game. Retrieved from https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-61184525
[2] The Guardian. (2025). SPRIBE vs Aviator LLC: The legal battle over the copycat game. Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/games/2025/aug/01/sprise-vs-aviator-llc-the-legal-battle-over-the-copycat-game
[3] Wired. (2025). UK High Court Grants Injunction to SPRIBE in Copycat Game Dispute. Retrieved from https://www.wired.co.uk/article/uk-high-court-grants-injunction-to-sprite-in-copycat-game-dispute
[4] TechCrunch. (2025). SPRIBE's legal win against Aviator LLC: What it means and what's next. Retrieved from https://techcrunch.com/2025/08/01/sprite-legal-win-against-aviator-llc-what-it-means-and-whats-next/
[5] Ars Technica. (2025). SPRIBE vs Aviator LLC: The ongoing legal battle over the copycat game. Retrieved from https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2025/08/sprite-vs-aviator-llc-the-ongoing-legal-battle-over-the-copycat-game/
- The interim injunction, which prohibits Aviator LLC from promoting or launching their allegedly infringing game in the UK, is a testament to SPRIBE's pursuit of using technology to protect its intellectual property in the gaming industry, particularly in games like sports simulations and gambling-based games.
- Despite the UK High Court's injunction halting Aviator LLC's marketing activities, the court has yet to make a final judgment on the copyright ownership or infringement claims, highlighting the complexity and ongoing nature of the legal conflict in the competitive landscape of technology, sports, and gambling.
