In a groundbreaking ruling on August 20, 2024, the Court of First Instance in Georgia sided with Aviator LLC in a trademark and copyright infringement case against Spribe OÜ and Adjarabet, a popular online casino owned by Flutter Entertainment Plc. The court awarded Aviator LLC a staggering $330 million in damages, invalidating Spribe OÜ’s trademark registrations due to bad faith.

Aviator LLC, represented by the law firm Mikadze Gegetchkori Taktakishvili LLC, filed the lawsuit claiming that Spribe OÜ’s use of the “Aviator” logo and brand in its game violated Aviator LLC’s intellectual property rights. Managing Partner of the representing law firm, Nikoloz Gogilidze, expressed satisfaction with the court’s ruling and emphasized the importance of protecting their client’s intellectual property.

Aviator LLC possessed several trademark registrations for the “Aviator” graphic logo, covering both online and physical gambling services. The conflict arose when Spribe OÜ began using the “Aviator” brand in its games and registered its own trademarks for computer games and gambling services. Aviator LLC argued that these registrations were made in bad faith, knowing about Aviator LLC’s prior rights and infringement on their copyright.

The lawsuit aimed to invalidate Spribe OÜ’s trademarks on the basis of bad faith registration and copyright infringement. The Court of First Instance ruled in favor of Aviator LLC, finding that Spribe OÜ’s registrations were made in bad faith and infringed on Aviator LLC’s copyright, leading to the invalidation of the trademarks.

Business Wire reported that the court also addressed Adjarabet’s use of the “Aviator” name and image in its game, ordering them to cease using it in their operations. This ruling not only affects Adjarabet but also sets a precedent for safeguarding intellectual property rights in the gaming industry.

This landmark ruling emphasizes the importance of protecting trademarks and copyrights in the competitive online gaming market. It may prompt other companies to review their trademark registrations to avoid infringing on existing rights. For Aviator LLC, the ruling signifies a significant legal triumph and solidifies its position in the gaming industry as a key player advocating for intellectual property protection.