hollywoodreporter.com/thr-esq/judge-wipes-28m-copyright-verdict-katy-perry-capitol-records-1285141

“More than a half a year after a California jury stunned the music world by punishing Perry for ripping off a Christian rapper's song, a judge finds there was nothing protectable to infringe.
It took much longer than expected but seven months after the conclusion of a copyright trial that stunned the music world, a California federal judge on Tuesday delivered a win to Katy Perry, Capitol Records, Lukasz "Dr. Luke" Gottwald and others who worked on the 2013 hit "Dark Horse."

In an opinion Tuesday, U.S. District Court Judge Judge Christina Snyder finds the defendants are not liable for infringing a Christian rapper's song. As a result, Marcus Gray, known professionally as Flame, finds his $2.8 million jury verdict wiped out.

Snyder comes to the conclusion after reviewing the evidence presented at the July trial and finding that Gray can't satisfy the extrinsic test, which requires that a copyright plaintiff identify concrete elements based on objective criteria that the works are similar.

Flame's "Joyful Noise" is a***yzed, and the judge considers the elements identified by his musicologist Todd Decker. But none of these elements including pitch sequence and the temporal spacing of notes is protectable, writes the judge.

Snyder then looks at whether Flame can claim any protection in the combination of unprotected elements.

"It is undisputed in this case, even viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to plaintiffs, that the signature elements of the 8-note ostinato in 'Joyful Noise'... is not a particularly unique or rare combination, even in its deployment as an ostinato: prior compositions, including prior works composed by the parties, as well as what all agree is a separate non-infringing ostinato in 'Dark Horse,' all contain similar elements," states the judge's opinion.

"Because the sole musical phrase that plaintiffs claim infringement upon is not protectable expression, the extrinsic test is not satisfied, and plaintiffs' infringement claim — even with the evidence construed in plaintiffs' favor — fails as a matter of law," continues the decision.

Snyder enters judgment for the defendants. The judge notes that had she not come to this conclusion, she would have also exercised discretion to order a new trial on damages.

The decision comes a week after the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals handed Led Zeppelin a win in an important copyright case over "Stairway to Heaven." In fact, that opinion gets plenty of play in Tuesday's decision.”

This will hopefully mean the Lucid Dreams and Pray For Me lawsuits get thrown out as well

Wow
Huge news

idk if this you being you but it genuinely is

I hope this sets a precedent for dumbasses like Yellowcard who think they can get away with bullshit lawsuits

W for art

you cant copyright a couple of notes, we all have the same ones

Not a fan of KP, but this is win is welcomed

This s*** is like patent trolling and needs to stop

song really sounded absolutely nothing like dark horse

that one song that sounded like this is america should’ve been a lawsuit instead

Pray for me gotta win next

thats cool

Already forgot about that song. Juicy J renegaded

glad to hear that this worked out for her !

ok but her pregnancy still flopped