The largest Irish gaming company, Flutter Entertainment, declared it would challenge a $330 million court ruling that was rendered recently in Georgia. A Georgian court this week ruled in a lawsuit brought by Aviator LLC that holds Flutter and its partner, Spribe, liable. The defendants were held accountable by the court for damages resulting from the online game “Aviator.”
The main point of contention in the legal issue is Aviator LLC’s assertion of ownership of the “Aviator” game’s intellectual property. Aviator LLC contended that Spribe, knowing full well that Aviator LLC had prior rights, registered the “Aviator” trademarks in bad faith. The lawsuit demanded hefty damages in addition to stopping Adjarabet, Flutter’s Georgian subsidiary, from utilizing the Aviator name and image.
Court Ruling Surprises Flutter
The Georgia Court of First Instance found in favor of Aviator LLC on August 20, 2024. The court awarded Adjarabet $330 million in damages and declared Spribe’s trademark registrations invalid. Flutter and Aviator LLC have not disclosed how the defendants will split the damages.
The company behind the FanDuel, Betfair, and Paddy Power brands, Flutter Entertainment, expressed dismay at the decision. The corporation calls the financial punishment “egregious” and unreasonable, and it vigorously contests the rationale of the verdict as well as the sum of damages awarded. Flutter counters that the assertion made by Aviator LLC is baseless, citing the Aviator game’s meager $7.5 million in sales in Georgia last year.
“The level of damages sought is egregious in nature and bears no resemblance to the actual economics of the property under debate,” Flutter Entertainment stated.
This ruling presents a significant legal and financial hurdle for Flutter. The company has been expanding its global presence, including acquiring a 51% stake in Adjarabet in 2019 and the remaining 49% in 2022. The outcome of this appeal could greatly impact Flutter’s operations in Georgia and possibly other markets.
Flutter’s decision to appeal highlights the importance of the Georgian market to the company. The appeal aims to overturn the court’s decision and mitigate potential financial repercussions. Furthermore, Flutter seeks to prevent setting a precedent that might lead to further legal challenges.
The post Flutter Entertainment to Challenge $330 Million Ruling in Georgia appeared first on iGaming.org.