'Spinal Tap' creators settle lawsuit with Vivendi's UMG

FILE PHOTO: Derek Smalls (played by Harry Shearer) (L), and David St. Hubbins (played by Michael McKean) of Spinal Tap perform during the Live Earth concert at Wembley Stadium in London, July 7, 2007. REUTERS/Stephen Hird

(Reuters) - Harry Shearer, Christopher Guest, Michael McKean and Rob Reiner, creators of mock rock music documentary "This is Spinal Tap", said they had resolved a dispute with Vivendi's Universal Music Group over the film's soundtrack recordings.

Under the agreement, which was announced on Tuesday, Spinal Tap's recordings will continue to be distributed through UMG and eventually the rights will be given to the creators.

A mediator had been working on resolving the dispute since November last year.

FILE PHOTO: Nigel Tufnel (played by Christopher Guest), Derek Smalls (played by Harry Shearer), and David St. Hubbins (played by Michael McKean) (L-R) of Spinal Tap perform during the Live Earth concert at Wembley Stadium in London, July 7, 2007. REUTERS/Stephen Hird

Vivendi has controlled Spinal Tap rights for nearly three decades.

The original complaint from the plaintiffs had stated that Vivendi had estimated the plaintiffs' share of Spinal Tap income at a mere $81 from merchandising between 1984 and 2016, plus $98 from music sales between 1989 and 2016.

"This Is Spinal Tap" is a pioneering example of the mock documentary, known for details including the deaths of drummers under bizarre circumstances and spectacular, over-the-top stage entrances that go wrong.

FILE PHOTO: Actor Harry Shearer, in character as bassist Derek Smalls of the fictitious band "Spinal Tap," performs at the House of Blues inside the Mandalay Bay hotel-casino in Las Vegas June 8, 2001. REUTERS/Ethan Miller

(Reporting by Sudip Kar-Gupta; Editing by David Goodman)

FILE PHOTO: The logo of Universal Music Group (UMG) is seen at a building in Zurich, Switzerland July 25, 2016. REUTERS/Arnd Wiegmann