A London High Court ruled that Robbie Williams and co-writer Guy Chambers "substantially copied" a song originally written by Woody Guthrie for use in Williams' "Jesus in a Camper Van," which appeared on both his 1998 album, I've Been Expecting You, and his 1999 U.S. debut, The Ego Has Landed.

The convoluted case stems from a suit filed in May 1999 by New York-based Ludlow Music, Inc., which represent Guthrie's catalog of tunes as well as that of Loudon Wainwright III . In Wainwright's 1973 tune, "I Am the Way (New York Town)," Wainwright adapted (and credited) Guthrie's 1961 tune, "New York Town," into his song. Though Wainwright gets co-credit in "Jesus in a Camper Van," Guthrie does not. But even with a printed permission from Wainwright in the album's liner notes, Wainwright's representation claims that he was slighted.

As for the textual borrowing: Guthrie's original song contained the line "Every good man gets a little hard luck sometimes." Wainwright's restructuring reads, "Every son of God gets a little hard luck sometimes, especially when he goes 'round saying he is the way." According to High Court Deputy Judge Nicholas Strauss, Williams' re-restructuring, "I suppose even the Son of God gets it hard sometimes, especially when he goes 'round saying 'I am the way,'" was "of sufficient substance to amount to an infringement of copyright."

Ludlow had green-lighted Williams use of the song last year, according to a BBC report, but the two sides couldn't agree on terms for the copyright; Ludlow requested a half share of the copyright, while Williams' label, EMI, offered twenty-five percent.

As a result of the court's ruling, Williams, along with his publishing and record companies, will now face a court case to determine damages owed to Ludlow Music.

ANDREW DANSBY
(October 3, 2000)