Robbie sued over song

Williams' I've Been Expecting You has sold 2.4m copies

Pop superstar Robbie Williams is being sued for alleged plagiarism by US singer-songwriter Loudon Wainwright III.

The 26-year-old has been issued with a writ at London's High Court in a copyright battle over a track on his best-selling album I've Been Expecting You.

Singer-songwriter Loudon Wainwright III

New York-based publisher Ludlow Music alleges the track Jesus In A Camper Van breaches its copyright to the song I Am The Way, written by the late US folk singer Woody Guthrie in 1961 and adapted by Wainwright III in 1973.

Williams' song, which was co-written with Guy Chambers and credits Wainwright on the label, includes the repeated words, "Even the son of God gets it hard sometimes, especially when he goes around saying I am the way".

Wainwright's adaptation of Guthrie's song includes the chorus "Every son of God gets a little hard luck sometime, especially when he goes around saying he's the way".

Copyright

The writ, issued by London solicitors Sheridans against Williams, co-writer Guy Chambers and music publishers EMI and BMG, alleges a deliberate infringement of Ludlow's copyright.

It seeks a court order the use of the song in any format, plus damages.

Williams' record company EMI Chrysalis sought permission nearly two years ago to use the lyrics from Ludlow, which asked for half the royalties, court documents say.

EMI allegedly declined, and Ludlow asked for the lyrics to be dropped from the song.

I've Been Expecting You has sold 2.4 million copies since its release in October 1998.

The action comes a year after the ex-Take That member lost a £1m legal battle against Nigel Martin Smith - the band's manager - who sued him for commission after Williams left the band in 1995.