Spribe Wins Malta Injunction Over Aviator Crash Game Rival

The long-running scrap over who really owns the Aviator crash-game format has taken a decisive turn. A Maltese court has ordered a rival studio to stop using branding that judges say is confusingly close to Spribe’s original Aviator, and the ruling lands just weeks before a similar fight reaches a UK courtroom.

What’s been released

The First Hall of the Civil Court of Malta issued a provisional, ex parte injunction on 1 September against three companies linked to Aviator Studio.
The order, issued on 1 September, told three companies linked to Aviator Studio to stop using trademarks the court found likely to cause confusion with Spribe’s EU-registered Aviator marks, naming Aviator Studio Limited, Aviator Studio Holding Limited and Aviator Studio USA Limited.

It requires all three to immediately cease using identical or similar signs to Spribe’s EU trademarks in connection with identical or similar products and services, and to stop operating the aviator.studio website or any other site featuring a matching mark in that context.

The injunction covers two EU trademarks owned by Spribe: a figurative mark combining the word “Aviator” with an aircraft image, and a multimedia mark covering elements of the Aviator game’s audiovisual presentation.

The Malta injunction is provisional, and the Aviator Studio companies are entitled to seek a review of the order, with Spribe required to commence proceedings leading to a decision on the merits within 31 calendar days of the ruling.

What’s changed

Judges based their decision partly on how confusable the two games have become in real casino lobbies.
The two games had appeared alongside each other when users searched for “Aviator” on Betsson and EuroCasino, and a LuckyStreak listing appeared to attribute Spribe’s game to Aviator Studios.

The court cited instances in which both companies’ Aviator games have appeared alongside each other, making it difficult for players to distinguish between the two.

For UK players, the case is not a one-off.
Spribe has had more success in the UK, where in July 2025 the High Court granted an interim injunction preventing Aviator LLC from launching a rival crash game in Britain.
Spribe’s own founder has signalled that the Malta result is only part of a wider push, with the company pointing to an upcoming UK hearing.
Natroshvili said he hoped the positive outcomes would continue in October in the UK, where there will be a hearing of the company’s application for a multi-territorial preliminary injunction request.

The dispute has not run entirely in Spribe’s favour everywhere.
In August 2024, Georgia’s Court of First Instance found that Spribe’s own Georgian trademarks had been registered in bad faith and infringed Aviator LLC’s copyright, a decision Georgia’s Supreme Court upheld in May 2025.
However, English courts have not simply followed that lead.
Deputy Judge Michael Tappin KC ruled that the Georgian court’s findings could not be automatically applied under English law.
Spribe has also had wins further afield, with
the Court of First Instance in Curaçao invalidating two Aviator-branded trademarks held by Aviator LLC just last month.

Where it fits

Aviator-style crash games have become one of the most imitated formats in the industry since Spribe’s original hit the market.
The company has reminded customers that it developed the original Aviator crash game in 2018 and launched it globally the following year.
That popularity is exactly why look-alike titles keep appearing across operator lobbies, and why UK players browsing casino sites may occasionally spot near-identical branding for what are, legally, two separate products.

With a UK hearing on the horizon and the Malta order still provisional, this is unlikely to be the final word. For now, though, UK-licensed operators carrying either brand will be watching closely, since the outcome could determine which version of the crash-game format stays on British menus and under what name.

Sources

• Gambling News – Spribe Gains Legal Momentum in Europe as Court Grants Provisional Injunction Against Aviator
• Next.io – Spribe granted provisional EU-wide injunction against Aviator Studio
• iGaming Express – Spribe wins Maltese injunction over Aviator branding
• iGamingToday – Spribe Wins EU-Wide Injunction Against Aviator Studio
• CasinoNoDeposits – Malta Court Grants Spribe Provisional Injunction Against Aviator Studio Over Trademark Infringement