Flutter Settles Aviator Trademark Dispute with Aviator LLC

Flutter Entertainment has settled its high-profile trademark dispute with Aviator LLC, marking a turning point in the legal battle.

The settlement includes a long-term commercial partnership, allowing Flutter to distribute Aviator-branded games globally.

This agreement follows Flutter’s $330 million court loss in Georgia, highlighting the growing complexity of gaming trademarks.

Learn how this settlement reshapes the Aviator trademark saga, and why SPRIBE remains entangled in further legal action.

Flutter and Aviator LLC Settle Trademark Dispute, Forge Long-Term Partnership

3 Key Points:

1. Settlement Reached: Flutter and Aviator LLC resolved their trademark dispute, forming a long-term partnership for Aviator-branded game distribution.
2. Legal Battle Background: Flutter lost a $330 million trademark infringement case in Georgia, escalating tensions over Aviator’s IP rights.
3. Ongoing SPRIBE Dispute: The settlement excludes SPRIBE, which continues to face legal action over Aviator’s branding in multiple jurisdictions.

Flutter Entertainment has reached a settlement with Aviator LLC, resolving a trademark dispute over the rights to the Aviator brand. The agreement, announced on January 30, establishes a long-term commercial partnership, enabling Flutter to market and distribute Aviator-branded online games worldwide.

This resolution ends all ongoing litigation between Flutter and Aviator LLC. However, it does not extend to SPRIBE, the developer behind the popular Aviator crash game, which remains embroiled in trademark disputes across multiple jurisdictions.

Flutter’s $330 Million Court Defeat and the Origins of the Dispute

The legal battle dates back to 2016-2017, when Teimuraz Ugulava, former owner of Adjarabet, created the Aviator brand and logo. In 2018, he registered the trademark under City Loft LLC, a company he solely owned.

Shortly after, Adjarabet partnered with SPRIBE to launch the Aviator crash game, incorporating the Aviator brand elements. However, in 2019, Flutter acquired a majority stake in Adjarabet for £100 million, leading to uncertainty over the rights to the Aviator name.

By 2022, all trademark rights were transferred from City Loft to Aviator LLC, setting the stage for legal action. Aviator LLC accused Flutter and SPRIBE of unauthorized use, escalating the dispute into courtrooms across Georgia, the EU, and the UK.

In August 2023, a Georgian court ruled against Flutter, imposing a $330 million judgment for copyright and trademark infringement. A source close to the case called the damages egregious, arguing they were disproportionate to the actual value of the intellectual property.

Settlement Terms and Ongoing Legal Battles

Under the settlement terms, Flutter and its subsidiaries officially recognize Aviator LLC’s rights to the Aviator trademark and airplane image. In return, Aviator LLC will allow Flutter to integrate Aviator-branded content into its platforms globally.

However, the settlement excludes SPRIBE, which remains in ongoing litigation with Aviator LLC. Following Aviator’s legal victory in Georgia, it filed additional trademark claims against SPRIBE with:

• The European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO).
• The UK High Court.

Nikoloz Gogilidze, managing partner at the law firm representing Aviator LLC, confirmed that these legal battles will continue, with further case updates expected soon.

SPRIBE’s Response and Allegations of Trademark Violations

As legal disputes persist, SPRIBE issued a strong statement on LinkedIn, reaffirming its ownership of the Aviator game’s intellectual property (IP).

SPRIBE claims to hold multiple trademark registrations protecting the Aviator game’s logo and branding. The company also alleges that third parties, including PopOK Gaming, have attempted to sell counterfeit Aviator games, misleading operators into believing they are official SPRIBE products.

In its statement, SPRIBE warned:
“Unauthorized parties are attempting to sell ‘Aviator’ games with a similar concept and design, falsely associating them with our brand. This includes a game distributed by PopOK Gaming. We take these matters very seriously and will not tolerate any infringement of our intellectual property rights.”

SPRIBE urged operators to investigate their platforms for potential infringing versions of Aviator and remove them immediately.

A High-Stakes Trademark Battle with Global Implications

The settlement between Flutter and Aviator LLC resolves a key chapter in the Aviator trademark saga, ensuring Flutter’s continued access to Aviator-branded content. However, with SPRIBE still locked in legal disputes, the larger battle over Aviator’s IP rights remains far from over.

As the case unfolds, gaming operators, developers, and regulators will closely watch the legal precedents set by this dispute. The outcome could reshape intellectual property rights in the online casino industry, influencing how crash games and branded content are protected worldwide.