English High Court curbs Aviator LLC launches in Colombia, Romania and Serbia

The English High Court on 6 November 2026 imposed interim limits on Aviator LLC’s rollout of its crash game in three markets while allowing Spribe to press wider claims in nine jurisdictions; the court also accelerated the main trial to October 2027. The judgment restricts new launches under the disputed Aviator branding in Colombia, Romania and Serbia but allows operators active before 3 July 2026 to continue.

Scope of the interim measures

Mr Justice Tappin handed a ruling that stops Aviator LLC and associated companies from launching the rival game under the contested Aviator name and similar aircraft branding on additional platforms in Colombia, Romania and Serbia. The order is limited: operators who were offering the game before 3 July 2026 may remain live and Aviator LLC may continue to supply those existing partners. The court did not grant the broader injunction Spribe sought to halt all offers of the rival product in those countries.

Expansion of Spribe’s claims and rejected extensions

The Court allowed Spribe to pursue counterclaims for passing off or unfair competition and certain copyright infringement in nine other jurisdictions: Canada, Colombia, Ghana, Italy, Kenya, Mexico, Romania, Serbia and South Africa. Spribe argued that the competitor’s game name, aircraft imagery and overall branding risk confusing consumers where Spribe’s Aviator crash game operates.

The claimant sought to add a further 28 countries to the English proceedings; the Court refused that request, finding insufficient evidence and allegations to justify inclusion. Canada and Italy were the subject of separate arrangements in which Aviator LLC gave an undertaking to provide 28 days’ notice before any launch and targeted promotion in those markets. For the other relevant territories the Court endorsed the idea of at least two weeks’ advance notice of anticipated launches so Spribe would have the opportunity to seek further protection.

Evidence and the judge’s view on confusion

Spribe presented examples involving operators, aggregators and B2B publications that it says promoted the rival product using Spribe branding. The judgement records there was no direct evidence of consumer confusion, but Mr Justice Tappin considered confusion likely on the facts presented. Aviator LLC and affiliated companies disputed the sufficiency of the evidence and questioned whether English proceedings should determine issues primarily concerning foreign markets.

"We are grateful that the UK High Court has issued a ruling that provides Spribe with further protection, recognising the likely confusion caused by the copycat game," Spribe CEO David Natroshvili said. "We have invested years into building the Aviator brand and earning the trust of players worldwide. This ruling sends an unequivocal message to copycats: you cannot hide behind borders."

Procedural timetable

The main trial has been moved forward to October 2027 from an earlier expectation of early 2028. A preliminary hearing is listed for April 2027 to consider whether earlier Georgian court judgments prevent certain issues from being relitigated in England.

Spribe is the claimant seeking protection of its Aviator crash game brand; Aviator LLC is the defendant permitted to continue existing supplies subject to the new launch restrictions. The judgment was handed down by the English High Court and ordered the interim measures set out above. For regulatory and litigation context see regulation and the parties’ positions on the case in industry reporting on b2b and casino.