A federal jury in Los Angeles ordered pop star Katy Perry and her producers to pay almost $3 million to the writers of a Christian rap song in a copyright lawsuit over Perry’s hit “Dark Horse,” according to news reports.
The jury ruled Monday that parts of Perry's song from her 2013 album "Prism" were improperly copied from Christian rapper Marcus Gray's 2009 song "Joyful Noise," according to USA Today.
Gray and two co-writers originally sought $20 million in the five-year-old lawsuit, but their attorney, Michael A. Kahn, said the trio was happy with the award, The Associated Press reported.
"We weren't here seeking to punish anyone," Kahn said. "Our clients came here seeking justice, and they feel they received justice from a jury of their peers."
“Dark Horse” was a huge hit for Perry, spending four weeks at the top of the music charts and earning the singer a Grammy nomination.
The AP reported Perry was ordered to pay just over $550,000 and her record company, Capitol Records, was ordered to pay the bulk of the $2.78 million award of $1.2 million.
Perry’s attorney says they plan to fight the decision.
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