High Court restricts Aviator launches in three markets in SPRIBE dispute
Regulation2 min read
The High Court of England and Wales has barred Aviator LLC and Aviator Studio from launching their Aviator crash game on new platforms in Colombia, Romania and Serbia until further order. The interim injunction, issued on 6 November, allows existing platforms to continue and leaves the defendants’ illegality defence open; the main trial is scheduled for October 2027.
The High Court of England and Wales has barred Aviator LLC and the Malta-based Aviator Studio companies from launching their Aviator crash game on new platforms in Colombia, Romania and Serbia, granting SPRIBE OÜ an interim injunction. Mr Justice Tappin issued the judgment on 6 November 2026.
For Canada and Italy, the Aviator parties have undertaken to provide written notice 28 days before any launch or marketing, which the court accepted. Launches in 28 other countries require notice of at least two weeks. In Italy, a demo had been available until the Maltese court issued its EU-wide order.
Confusion between the games was likely, the judge found, while stressing that his view was provisional. The Aviator parties’ illegality defence remains open; it is connected to their copyright claim concerning SPRIBE’s aeroplane logo.
SPRIBE is defending the case brought by the Aviator parties and has filed counterclaims. The court permitted SPRIBE to add counterclaims alleging passing off and unfair competition in Canada, Colombia, Ghana, Italy, Kenya, Mexico, Romania, Serbia and South Africa. Claims covering a further 28 countries were refused.
The ruling follows a UK interim injunction issued in 2025 and a provisional injunction obtained by SPRIBE in Malta that covers the European Union. SPRIBE launched its game in Georgia in 2019; the Aviator parties released theirs in March 2025. SPRIBE founder David Natroshvili said the company would continue protecting its game, brand and players.
Preliminary issues concerning the effect of earlier Georgian court judgments are due for trial in April 2027. The Court of Appeal ruled on 2 October that English law governs the question. Mr Justice Tappin expedited the main trial to October 2027; otherwise, it would have been listed in early 2028.