Jury: Katy Perry’s ‘Dark Horse’ Copied Christian Rap Song (3)

Katy Perry’s 2013 hit “Dark Horse” infringed a Christian hip-hop artist’s song, a California jury said.

Missouri resident Marcus Gray sued Perry, whose real name is Katherine Hudson, along with Universal Music Group Inc., for ripping off various rhythms and patterns from his song “Joyful Noises.” The jury in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California will next determine the amount of damages to award.

The case highlights the subjective nature of a jury’s ruling in copyright infringement cases. While judges are limited to applying an objective analysis of shared elements, juries add a subjective test on ...