LONDON--The Spice Girls [ tickets ] were ordered to pay up to $600,000 (£400,000) in legal bills on Thursday (7/20) after they lost their case against Italian motor scooter makers Aprilia, the official sponsor of the 1998 SpiceWorld Tour.

The decision followed a February hearing in which the Spice Girls sought $151,000 (£100,000) in unpaid royalties, motorcycles worth $9,000 (£6,000) and a separate guaranteed royalty payment of $168,000 (£112,000).

The Spice Girls in turn were accused of breach of contract after Geri Halliwell left the group and cost Aprilia "millions" of dollars in potential profit on a special "Sonic Spice Scooter."

The court ruled that the group had to pay Aprilia $61,000 (£45,550) for scooters given to them and about 60% of the company's legal costs, which could total up to $600,000.

Lawyers for the Spice Girls' company Spice Girls Limited said that they will appeal the decision.