Katy Perry Victorious In $2.8M ‘Dark Horse’ Copyright Lawsuit
Katy Perry is walking free after a judge ruled against the jury’s verdict in the $2.8M copyright infringement lawsuit, over her song “Dark Horse.”
In July 2014, Perry was accused of plagiarizing the song “Joyful Noise” by Christian rapper Marcus Gray (aka Flame). Perry and her team argued they’d never heard the song before, and in July 2019 the jury sided with Gray; forcing rapper Juice J and producer Max Martin to pay damages, plus $550,000 from Perry.
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Perry appealed that decision, and now it’s paying off, after Judge Christina Snyder set aside the jury’s verdict, claiming, “It is undisputed in this case, even viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to plaintiffs, that the signature elements of the eight-note ostinato in ‘Joyful Noise’ is not a particularly unique or rare combination.” Gray is planning to appeal the appeal decision.
His attorney, Michael A. Kahn says, “When the jurors returned a unanimous verdict of infringement, I cautioned my clients that we had only finished Round 11 of a 15-round match and that the next round would take place in the court of appeals. We believe the jury was right and will do our best to restore their verdict on appeal.”
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