In Day One of ‘Dark Horse’ Damages Trial, Capitol Records Reveals The Label Spent $11.7 Million to Promote Katy Perry’s Hit

So, how much did Katy Perry actually earn from ‘Dark Horse?’ According to Christian rapper Marcus Gray’s attorneys, $41 million.  Universal Music’s Capitol Records allegedly received $31 million from the track’s success. According to Capitol’s defense …

How Much Will ‘Coincidental’ Copyright Infringement Cost Katy Perry? Lawyers Say $41 Million

On Monday afternoon, a jury found Katy Perry, her producers, and Universal Music’s Capitol Records guilty of copyright infringement. The jury in a California federal courtroom ruled Perry’s ‘Dark Horse’ outright copied Marcus Grey’s 2008 Christian hit,…

Jury Rules That Katy Perry’s ‘Dark Horse’ Copied Christian Rap Song ‘Joyful Noise’

A jury found Katy Perry liable for copying the underlying beat of Marcus Gray’s 2008 Christian rap song “Joyful Noise” for her hit single “Dark Horse” in a unanimous decision handed down this week in Los Angeles federal court. Also found liable were Perry’s “Dark Horse” collaborators Lukasz Gottwald (Dr….

Head-Scratching Continues Following the Katy Perry Verdict — Does the Music Business Have a Copyright Trolling Problem?

The ‘Dark Horse’ ruling could mean millions in damages.  The music business may be looking at billions more. What exactly constitutes copyright infringement of a musical work these days? You’ll have to ask a jury. In other words: nobody can safely answ…

Kraftwerk Wins Its 20-Year Copyright Infringement Battle — Over a 2-Second Sample

20 years later, Kraftwerk is handed a copyright-infringement win; the decision could affect countless EU musicians. Kraftwerk, the legendary electronic-pop band based out of Germany, has just won a 20-year-long lawsuit over the unauthorized use of a tw…

Katy Perry Found Guilty of Copyright Infringement In ‘Dark Horse’ Trial — Faces Millions In Damages and Lost Royalties

Katy Perry has lost a massive copyright infringement lawsuit involving ‘Dark Horse’. A California federal court jury has ruled that Katy Perry’s “Dark Horse” was stolen from Christian rapper Marcus Gray, who performs as ‘Flame’.  The decision, issued M…

Meat Loaf Settles Longtime Copyright Infringement Battle Over “I’d Do Anything for Love”

Singer Meat Loaf has reached a deal to end a copyright dispute over his hit single, “I’d Do Anything for Love (But I Won’t Do That)”. The agreement resolves allegations that Meat Loaf (real name Michael Aday) stole the song over 24 years ago. A dismiss…

Lil Nas X, Sony Music Face $25 Million Infringement Lawsuit Over ‘Carry On’

Lil Nas X and Sony Music are now being targeted in a $25 million copyright-infringement lawsuit. A California-based publisher, The Music Force, claims that Lil Nas X borrowed from “Carry On,” a song written by Bobby Caldwell, a successful 67-year-old p…

NYU Professor and Pianist Calls Katy Perry’s ‘Dark Horse’ Similarities with ‘Joyful Noise’ a “Coincidence”

So, did Katy Perry’s producers, including Dr. Luke, copy Marcus Grey’s 2008 single, ‘Joyful Noise,’ to create the smash-hit ‘Dark Horse?’ The case all started in July 2014.  Christian rappers Marcus Gray (i.e., Flame), Emmanuel Lambert (i.e, ‘D.A.’ Tru…

Testifying Against Plagiarism Accusations, Dr. Luke Argues Katy Perry’s ‘Dark Horse’ is an “Original” Song

According to a professional musicologist and musician, Katy Perry’s producers willfully stole a Christian rapper’s song to create ‘Dark Horse.’ According to Perry’s legal team, however, Marcus Gray has no right to sue.  After all, he didn’t create the …