Game developer Spribe accuses PopOk Gaming of distributing a paint game resembling Spribe’s Aviator game. According to the developer, this is an infringement of intellectual property rights.
The company’s statement says that Spribe is the sole owner of the intellectual property rights to the Aviator game. The company’s rights include registration for several trademarks used for the game’s logo. In addition, Spribe’s game is tested and certified in more than 30 jurisdictions and is available on platforms offering the best Aviator game apps. Operators are warned about unauthorized copies of Aviator.
PopOK Gaming is accused of being just that—an unauthorized third party that tried to sell customers a game that not only had a similar concept and design but was even called Aviator. The company claimed that it was offering exactly the original game. But the company appealed to consumers to let them know that these games were not authorized by it and violated Spribe’s intellectual property rights. The game offered by PopOK Gaming is falsely associated with the brand, meaning they intentionally mislead players.
The company, which is headquartered in Poland, emphasized that it takes the matter very seriously and may take legal action. It urged operators to determine whether their platform offers any unauthorized and copyright-infringing versions of Aviator and remove all such games without delay. If this is not done, the consequences could be highly unpleasant.
It is crucial for Spribe to assert its copyright for several reasons. For example, it has expanded its partnership with the UFC—the game’s logo will now be prominently placed on the octagon at every event around the world. The new partnership will also allow the UFC to run social media campaigns dedicated to the game and organize “premium hospitality.”
In addition, Spribe has partnered with WWE—this partnership includes branding placed at major events, which is agreed upon in advance. Aviator is also the “Official Crash Game” of Italian soccer giant AC Milan, while Spribe holds the title of “Official Crash Game Partner.” Unsurprisingly, the company cares so much about copyright and reputation.