If you click on a link and make a purchase we may receive a small commission. Read our editorial policy.

Viacom sues Harmonix for $131m

Claims original merger was miscalculated.

Shareholders in Rock Band developer Harmonix are being sued by the studio's former owner Viacom for a hefty $131 million.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Viacom claims "earn-out payments" made in its 2006 acquisition of the studio, intended to keep Harmonix management locked in after the deal was done, were miscalculated.

It originally paid $150 million for the developer, and wants all but $19 million of that back.

The suit follows Harmonix's own claim late last year that it is owed more than $13 million by Viacom on account of alleged unfair business practices.

Viacom sold Harmonix back to its management for pocket change as a tax write-off back in January, after the studio made losses of around $65 million in a single financial quarter.

From Assassin's Creed to Zoo Tycoon, we welcome all gamers

Eurogamer welcomes videogamers of all types, so sign in and join our community!

In this article
Follow a topic and we'll email you when we write an article about it.

Rock Band 3

PS3, Xbox 360, Nintendo Wii, Nintendo DS

Related topics
About the Author
Fred Dutton avatar

Fred Dutton

Contributor

Fred Dutton was Eurogamer's US news editor, based in Washington DC.

Comments