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Aviator LLC has taken formal legal action against Betway in South Africa, accusing the operator of using protected visual elements tied to the AVIATOR brand without authorization.
The dispute began after Aviator issued a cease‑and‑desist notice, but the response from Betway did not resolve the matter. With the brand continuing to grow across African markets, Aviator says it had no choice but to escalate the issue through the courts.
The company owns global copyright in the AVIATOR logo and holds trademark rights in several African jurisdictions, protections it argues are essential to safeguard both brand integrity and consumer trust.
In an interview with iGAMINGAFRIKA, Aviator representatives explained that the decision to sue followed failed attempts to resolve the matter professionally. CEO George Pruidze stated: “Our intention in engaging with partners has never been to escalate matters into court proceedings.”
“From the outset, our priority has been to resolve matters professionally and constructively, in a manner that protects the mutual interests of all parties involved while safeguarding the integrity of the AVIATOR brand and its intellectual property rights. Unfortunately, Betway’s response and continued actions left us with no reasonable alternative but to pursue legal action.”
The company added that the case could lead to an injunction preventing further use of its assets, alongside claims for damages and recovery of profits.
Aviator LLC no stranger to legal battles
This is not the first time Aviator has found itself in court over brand infringement. Just last year, the company was locked in a high‑profile trademark dispute with Flutter Entertainment and its subsidiary Spribe.
The case, filed in Georgia in August 2024, centered on claims that Spribe’s Aviator crash game copied Aviator LLC’s logo and branding. Aviator sought damages, arguing that its intellectual property had been used without permission.
The court initially ordered Aviator to pay €330 million, a figure equal to Flutter’s earlier purchase of Adjarabet, a local gambling brand once owned by Aviator’s founder. Flutter was prepared to appeal, calling the claims groundless.
By January 2025, however, the situation shifted. Both sides reached a settlement and announced a long‑term partnership. Flutter formally recognized Aviator LLC’s rights to its trademarks and imagery, and the deal allowed Aviator‑branded games to be distributed worldwide through Flutter’s platforms. Aviator’s attorney, Nikoloz Gogilidze, confirmed that the agreement meant integration of Aviator’s products across Flutter’s network.
