Court Rules Viacom Payout To 'Rock Band' Makers

Gamin'

VIACOM, the former owner of ROCK BAND creators HARMONIX MUSIC SYSTEMS, must pay its shareholders $383 million as part of an arbitration settlement, USA TODAY reports. The conglomerate was ordered to pay the amount on top of a $150 million bonus payment to the studio.

VIACOM's dispute with HARMONIX stems from bonus payments tied to the acquisition of the studio five years ago. Even though the individual ROCK BAND games have sold well, VIACOM lost money creating the fake instruments for each release.

That likely prompted VIACOM selling HARMONIX to an investment firm for $50.

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