Why no Teardrop for House?

What’s the theme tune to House? A simple question, you might think, but it has two answers. In the US and Canada, it’s Teardrop by Massive Attack (also available in the iTunes Music Store). Yet in the UK and Australia, to name but two overseas markets, the theme is an original piece, written by theme composers.

Why? I imagine licensing issues are the heart of the problem, but did Massive Attack refuse to license their music outside North America or did they simply ask for too much?

I’ll try to find out…