With its staccato bass throbs, epic brass stabs and signature pitch-bending strings, the lowering soundtrack to The Dark Knight is one of the more distinctive scores of the past year. But it is not, it seems, eligible for Oscar contention: Hans Zimmer and James Newton Howard's creation has been disqualified by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for being the work of too many composers.

According to Variety, the Academy's music branch acted after noting that five people were credited with composing the score. Although no one seems to know exactly how many people are allowed to be involved, that was apparently too many.

The score for Batman Begins, Nolan's earlier film about the caped crusader, was similarly disqualified in 2005. It was produced by the same creative team of Zimmer and Howard, along with several additional composers. For The Dark Knight, the duo teamed up with music editor Alex Gibson, ambient music designer Mel Wesson and composer Lorne Balfe.

In an effort to head off any issues this time around, the latter trio signed an affidavit stating that Zimmer and Howard were the prime composers of the work. But despite four hours of discussion, the committee ruled against the eligibility of the score.

Multi-composer scores are becoming increasingly prevalent in Hollywood, and it's likely the Academy may soon change the rules to take this development into account. One problem is that supporting musicians' names cannot be taken off the cue sheet - the list of people credited with composing the score - without harming their position when it comes to royalty payments.

Zimmer and Howard, who have both been nominated for Oscars seven times - Zimmer winning once for The Lion King in 1995 - declined to make any comment on the committee's ruling.