Viacom ordered to pay $380 million to Harmonix

Viacom has been ordered to pay Rock Band developer Harmonix $383 million over missing bonuses.

The decision, made by a private arbitrator last month, is the latest development in the on-going saga between the two companies.

The lawsuit revolves around what Harmonix claims are unpaid bonuses in 2008, despite meeting sales goals set out by Viacom, which had paid out $150 million the previous year in bonuses.

The shareholders had been seeking $700 million in the long-running dispute.

Viacom has since filed a suit in Delaware Court of Chancery to contest the decision, asking the resolution accountants “to consider arguments and evidence that were improperly excluded and to vacate the determination of the resolution accountants on the grounds of manifest error.”

The media giant bought the Rock Band developer in 2006 for $175 million, but the studio was later bought out in 2010 by Columbus Nova for a reported $50, with Viacom keen to be rid of the large debts Harmonix had accrued.