Topic: Spygate

A class-action lawsuit filed by a Jets fan against the New England Patriots following the Spygate scandal resulted in a significant legal ruling regarding the nature of sports. The Third Circuit Court of Appeals determined that a ticket purchase is merely a license to view an event, not a guarantee that the game will be played by specific rules or without cheating. Legally, professional sports are classified as entertainment—similar to the ballet or movies—meaning leagues can technically fix their own games without committing fraud.