Katy Perry and record label ordered to pay $2.7m for copying Christian rapper's song

Katy Perry and her record label must pay more than $2.78million after it was deemed her 2013 hit Dark Horse copied a Christian rap song.

A five-year legal battle found in favour of rapper Marcus Gray, a relatively unknown artist known as Flame.

Perry herself was ordered to pay more than $550,000 (£457,000), with Capitol Records responsible for the vast majority of the money.

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The amount was less than the near $20m (£16.5m) Gray had demanded on the 2009 song Joyful Noise, but they said they were pleased with the decision.

“These defendants have made millions and millions of dollars from their infringement of the plaintiff’s copyright,” Gray’s lawyer Michael A Kahn told the jury.

Perry and the team argued they should pay $360,000 (£297,000) after the jury decided earlier this week that Dark Horse copied Joyful Noise.

Perry’s lawyer Christine Lepera said they planned to vigorously fight the decision.

“The writers of Dark Horse consider this a travesty of justice,” she said.

Both sides agreed Perry herself made $2.4m from the song, while Gray's lawyers argued the song grossed $41m (34m).

Lawyers from Gray argued that because the rhythmic instrumental from Joyful Noise plays through 45 per cent of Dark Horse, Gray was therefore entitled to 45 per cent of Perry's entire earnings for her album Prism, where her song appears.

Lawyers for Perry and her co-defendants, which included Capitol Records and producer Dr Luke, said the millions Gray sought were based on ludicrous figures.