New Order announced they've settled legal issues with Peter Hook. The financial dispute was over royalties and the use of Joy Division and New Order assets.
As fans painfully know all too well, the acrimony between Peter Hook and the current members of New Order (Bernard Sumner, Stephen Morris, and Gillian Gilbert) has been ongoing for years. Sumner, Morris, and Gilbert officially split with Peter Hook in 2007 and continue to use the New Order name. New Order claim Hooky quit the band in 2007; Peter Hook claims he never quit the band, he was fired.
In 2010 Hook formed a new band Peter Hook & The Light with the initial intent to pay tribute to Ian Curtis by performing the work of Joy Division (2010 was the 30th anniversary of Curtis' death). New Order took issue with Hook using Joy Division (and later New Order's) assets such as music, images, merchandising, etc.; Hook took issue with the remaining members of New Order forming a new company (New Order Ltd) without him in 2011 and claimed the new company clandestinely shafted him from his stake in royalties from their back catalog. Thus the legal drama began.
Peter Hook filed suit against New Order claiming he was owed a substantial amount of money. New Order disagreed and tried to get the case thrown out, alleging Hook was acting out of spite and his suit was filed merely so he could rejoin the band. In 2015 a judge determined though there was "vitriolic criticism on both sides" there was "at least a reasonable prospect" that Hook could prove he was owed royalties. The ruling allowed Hook to continue pursuing the case, though the judge strongly suggested the parties settle because the financial stakes were "potentially substantial."
According to New Order the dispute has been resolved. Though the terms of the settlement have not been disclosed, they described it as "full and final." They have offered up their official statement on the matter which is available to view below.
"New Order announce that today, a full and final settlement has been reached in the long running disputes with their former bassist Peter Hook.
The disputes were based upon Hook's use of various New Order and Joy Division assets on merchandising and in the promotion of shows by his new band, and the amount of money he receives from the use of the name New Order by his former colleagues since 2011.
The Joy Division and New Order names mean a great deal to so many of the fans, and the band felt it important to protect the legacy.
With these issues now dealt with, Bernard, Stephen and Gillian can continue to do what they do best, make music and perform live."
Peter Hook has not publicly commented on the settlement as of yet.
Published September 21st, 2017