A jury has awarded $2.78 million to Christian rapper Flame after he won a copyright lawsuit against Katy Perry. According to Variety, Capitol Records will be responsible for paying most of the sum.
Flame, whose real name is Marcus Gray, and his co-writers were seeking $20 million in damages. The defense claimed $360,000 was a more reasonable amount.
Earlier this week, a jury ruled Perry’s hit single “Dark Horse” copied Flame’s song “Joyful Noise.” Although she won’t be paying the full $2.78 million herself, Perry is reportedly on the hook for $550,000.
[This post has been updated. The following was originally published on July 30, 2019.]
Christian rapper Flame secured a legal victory against Katy Perry. On Monday (July 29), a California jury ruled the pop star copied Flame’s song “Joyful Noise” for her hit single “Dark Horse.”
The Lecrae-assisted “Joyful Noise” was originally released in 2008. Perry’s Dr. Luke-produced “Dark Horse,” which features Three 6 Mafia’s Juicy J, dropped in 2013 and reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 2014.
Flame, whose real name is Marcus Gray, claimed the chart-topping track used the underlying beat from “Joyful Noise.” Perry, Dr. Luke and co-writer Max Martin contended they never heard the Christian rapper’s song.
According to the Hollywood Reporter, Flame argued they may have heard his cut at the Grammy Awards since Our World: Redeemed — the album featuring “Joyful Noise” — was nominated for Best Rock or Rap Gospel Album in 2008. He also claimed Perry and others involved may have heard his work on YouTube or MySpace, where the song had racked up millions of views.
After a seven-day trial, the jury ruled in favor of Flame. Damages for copyright infringement will be determined Tuesday (July 30).
Perry’s lawyers have filed a motion saying no reasonable jury could determine copyright infringement based on the evidence presented at the trial. The motion, which was filed last Thursday (July 25), is pending.
Compare Flame’s “Joyful Noise” and Perry’s “Dark Horse below.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QCcW-guAs_s
[apple_news_ad type=”any”]
Too easy lol…im bout to get me a lawsuit against timbaland stealing ass
Danja is this you? lol
I mean, I don’t hear it but whatever. lol @ Flame’s lyrics.
I’m not of this world / like I’m from the planet Mars
I love the preacher Jesus / you can read it in my bars
I’m pretty straight fahrrd / when I’m speaking about M’lahrrd
Weak shit. Shame he got a cool name and we get have two different versions of rappers named after babies.
Shit was hot..dont hate
It ain’t about the bars, though. Regardless, this is far from one of his best songs. Go listen to some of his other music from albums like The 6th and Royal Flush.
Haha.
Pay up naw that’s a lot of money a lot of money
IM PRETTY STRAIGHT FAARD WHEN IM SPEAKIN ON THE LAARD
always keep music original as well as other things before you go calling yourself and the public an artist.
What she steals other artists beats and compositions and hires writers sounds like a 21st century artist to me
Its funny cause you can clearly hear its not the same beat the drums are the same thats about it
Christian rappers out here jerkin people for money
Must be gods plan haha
You big mad. Hahahah
It’s really funny that these “Christian” rappers are out here suing for copyright infringement for a song that they clearly copied from Young Jocs flow and style
He getting caked da fuck out haha. Ballin out!!! Cah ching$$$$$
That beat is off an old three 6 song.. these judges are trippin
Im a ultra Harvard grad with multi platinum doctorates and in my expert opinion this was a carbon copy of Flames masterpiece and he deseeced 30 billion in damages. No cap
The rhythm is the same but the notes are different. I only took one term of entertainment law but I was under the impression that as long as the notes are different it’s not plagiarism.