Crash game Developer Spribe has gotten a very important procedural victory in its ongoing London copyright dispute with Aviator LLC. A High Court judge had ruled on a foreign law that will be applied to crucial parts of this case.
Aviator LLC is a company linked to Georgian businessman Temur Ugulava. Currently, they are challenging Spribe’s rights to the Aviator brand.
The decision was issued on May 22 by Deputy Judge Michael Tappin KC. This case is important as Aviator LLC is pursuing copyright claims in several countries that are covered by the Berne Convention.
The center of the dispute is the ownership of an airplane image associated with Aviator crash games. It is a brand element that has gained commercial value, and the title has become an extremely successful online casino crash game.
Spribe continues to maintain trademark rights over the image and denies the allegations that they have copied something. During August last year, they obtained an interim injunction against Aviator LLC.
Aviator LLC believes that English law should decide whether Georgian court rulings should take place or not alongside with foreign copyright legislation laws.
Tappin KC believes that EY-driven international laws are still retained within English laws. Copyright protection laws should be applied in all cases.
The judge has claimed that the earlier court decisions must be assessed under the laws of the countries involved in this case. The court has also rejected Aviator LLC’s request for a separate hearing on copyright ownership.
