They went with an independant co. called Mushroom records so that they could keep their exisiting independant team. Sony offered more money but they turned them down.

Here is a little extract I found:

IT WOULD have been too much to expect The Darkness to ink their record deal in anything less than attention-grabbing style.
Ever the comedians, guitarists Justin and Dan Hawkins, bassist Frankie Poullain and drummer Ed Graham turned up to collect their over-sized cheque from Mushroom Records dressed as 18th century noblemen.
"In The Darkness' typical flamboyant style, they came dressed up and used quills to sign their contract because they could," says the band's spokesman. The cheque was made out for three pints of lager and a vodka, lime and soda, and was warmly received by the band, who celebrated afterwards with just that.
The Darkness release new single 'Growing On Me' on June 16 and their album 'Permission To Land' is out July 7 via Must Destroy/Mushroom Records.

Great stuff!!