Spribe secures EU-wide provisional injunction against Aviator Studio over trademark dispute

By jili tutorial · September 10, 2026

Spribe Secures EU-Wide Provisional Injunction Against Aviator Studio: A Comprehensive Guide to the Landmark Trademark Ruling

Overview of the Ruling

On 9 September 2026, Spribe OÜ, the Estonian developer behind the iconic Aviator crash game, announced a major legal victory. Malta’s First Hall of the Civil Court had issued a provisional injunction against three companies operating under the “Aviator Studio” name. The order—granted on an ex parte basis (without the defendants present) on 1 September 2026—extends Spribe’s EU trademark protection across all 27 member states. This ruling is the latest in a string of cross-jurisdictional enforcement actions that highlight the growing importance of intellectual property (IP) protection in the fast-moving iGaming sector.

Background: The Rise of Crash Games and the Aviator Brand

Since its global launch in 2019, Spribe’s Aviator has become one of the most widely distributed multiplayer crash games in the world. The game attracts more than 77 million unique players per month and is certified in over 40 regulated jurisdictions. Its success has made the brand a prime target for imitation. The core gameplay—where players bet on a rising multiplier that can “crash” at any moment—has been replicated by numerous copycats, leading to a surge in trademark disputes across Europe and beyond.

Spribe’s founder, David Natroshvili, has been explicit about the company’s strategy: “Protecting that IP isn’t optional for us. If you selectively ignore infringements, particularly significant ones, you risk weakening the brand and creating confusion for operators and players.”

The Legal Mechanism: How an Ex Parte Provisional Injunction Works

A provisional injunction is a court order that temporarily restrains a party from taking certain actions—here, using infringing trademarks—while the main lawsuit proceeds. The “ex parte” nature means the court made the decision without hearing the defendants first, usually because the applicant demonstrates urgency and a risk of irreparable harm. Under Malta’s Intellectual Property Rights Enforcement Act, such measures can be granted when there is a prima facie case of infringement.

In this case, the court found that the Aviator Studio companies had created a branding that was likely to cause confusion among players, operators, and commercial partners. The similarities cited included:

The identical “Aviator” name.
Aircraft imagery used in logos and promotional materials.
Both parties targeting the same online gaming audience.

Details of the Malta Order

The injunction specifically covers two EU trademarks registered with the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO):

Figurative mark (Registration No. 018817594) – Combines the word “Aviator” with an aircraft image. Filed in 2022.
Multimedia mark (Registration No. 018825078) – Covers elements of the Aviator game’s audiovisual presentation, including its distinctive start sequence and crash animation. Filed in 2023.

The court ordered three Malta-incorporated companies—Aviator Studio Limited, Aviator Studio Holding Limited, and Aviator Studio USA Limited—to immediately:

Cease using any signs identical or similar to Spribe’s EU trademarks in connection with equivalent products and services.
Stop operating the domain aviator.studio and any other website featuring a similar mark.

The order is enforceable across all EU member states, giving Spribe a powerful tool to prevent the infringing products from being marketed or distributed within the bloc.

Cross-Jurisdictional Enforcement Campaign: Beyond Malta

The Malta ruling is only one piece of a wider enforcement puzzle. Spribe has been actively pursuing IP protection in multiple jurisdictions:

United Kingdom: In August 2025, the High Court of England and Wales granted Spribe an interim injunction against Aviator LLC, a separate Georgian entity. That order prevented the company from launching or marketing a competing crash game under the Aviator name in the UK. The UK proceedings remain ongoing, with a Case Management Conference scheduled for October 2026. At that hearing, Spribe will apply for a multi-territorial preliminary injunction that could extend the ban beyond the UK.
Curaçao: The Court of First Instance in Curaçao invalidated Aviator-branded trademarks held by a separate defendant earlier in 2026. This decision removes a key registration that infringers had used to legitimise their operations.
Kenya: Spribe successfully registered its Aviator logo in Kenya, securing trademark rights in an expanding African market where crash games are growing in popularity.

This multi-jurisdictional strategy is designed to create a “net” around infringers, making it harder for them to find a legal safe haven. David Natroshvili commented: “This is further momentum for SPRIBE after several positive outcomes, including cancellation of the trademarks of infringers in Curaçao, and the registration of our iconic logo in Kenya.”

Why Crash Game IP Disputes Are a Hot Topic in iGaming Litigation

The Aviator case is emblematic of a broader trend. Crash games have become one of the most active areas of iGaming litigation in Europe, particularly regarding trademark and copyright ownership. Why?

High commercial value: Successful crash games generate millions in revenue, making them attractive targets for copycats.
Low barrier to entry: The core mechanics are simple to replicate, leading to a flood of “me-too” titles that deliberately mimic the look and feel of established brands.
Cross-border distribution: Operators in regulated markets often carry dozens of crash games, and players may not distinguish between legitimate and infringing versions—especially when the branding is nearly identical.

The courts are being asked to draw fine lines between generic game concepts and protectable brand elements. In this case, Malta’s court found that Spribe’s EU trademarks were sufficiently distinctive to warrant an injunction.

Implications for the iGaming Industry

For game developers: The ruling reinforces the importance of early and robust trademark registration. Spribe filed its marks in 2022–2023, well before the infringing activity escalated. Developers should follow suit by registering both figurative and multimedia marks—especially for audio-visual elements that define the user experience.
For operators: Operators must be vigilant when sourcing crash games from third-party studios. Carrying a title that infringes on another company’s IP could expose them to legal risk, even if they were unaware of the infringement. The provisional injunction places a duty on operators to verify the provenance of games, particularly those using well-known names like “Aviator.”
For legal professionals: The use of ex parte provisional injunctions is a powerful tool for rightsholders, but it requires swift action and strong prima facie evidence. The Malta case demonstrates that multi-jurisdictional enforcement—targeting not just the infringing company but also its holding entities and domain names—can be highly effective.

Conclusion: A Precedent for Cross-Border IP Protection

The Malta court’s decision marks a significant milestone in Spribe’s global campaign to protect the Aviator brand. By securing an EU-wide provisional injunction on an ex parte basis, Spribe has gained immediate relief while the main legal battles continue in the UK, Curaçao, and elsewhere. As crash games continue to dominate the iGaming landscape, this case will likely serve as a reference point for other developers facing similar infringement issues. The message is clear: IP rights in the digital gaming space are enforceable across borders, and courts are increasingly willing to act quickly to protect them.