Don King Productions Sues American Legion Post Over Pay-Per-View

The American Legion post in Chino, California, has agreed to pay two $20,000 settlements in lawsuits brought by Don King's KingVision Pay-Per-View over showing boxing matches at their hall.

According to Steve Lopez of the Los Angeles Times, the lawsuits, brought by both KingVision and J&J Sports Productions, alleged that the American Legion hall was breaking the broadcast rules by purchasing only a residential pay-per-view license, rather than a commercial license. The American Legion post says they just bought the pay-per-view that their satellite company told them to buy, and they say they don't see why they'd need a commercial license, because they never charged anybody to watch boxing.

But the folks at the American Legion told Lopez that they decided to settle the lawsuits because they couldn't afford a court battle with pay-per-view providers who have deep pockets. That has King himself facing some criticism as the rich guy who's going after the American Legion.

Rick Ungar of True/Slant writes:

I'm a pretty big fight fan who rarely misses a good match on pay-per-view. So, it is with some pain that I make the following pledge: I swear before God that I will never watch a boxing match promoted by Don King until he (a) releases American Legion Post 299 from any obligation in this matter to him and his equally shameful partners, J&J Sports Productions, and (b) grants a free and continuous license to each and every American Legion Post in America for every single fight he ever promotes. And by that I mean that any American Legion Post would not even have to pay even the amount charged for watching a fight in one's living room.

King frequently extolls the virtues of patriotism. Perhaps he can do something nice for the American Legion and let this one slide.