POP star Robbie Williams was in trouble at the High Court yesterday because one of the tracks he co-wrote for his second best-selling album contained ''substantial'' copying from an earlier lyric.

The Williams song Jesus in a Camper Van, co-written with Guy Chambers for the album I've Been Expecting You, was a breach of copyright of the late Woody Guthrie's song I Am The Way, and of an adaptation by Loudon Wainwright III, a judge decided.

Williams and his record and publishing companies now face a trial to determine the amount of royalties or damages owed to the owners of the original copyright, New York-based Ludlow Music.

Ludlow owns the copyright in the original song, written in 1961 by the American folk-singing legend, and in what the judge described as a parody of the number by 53-year-old Loudon Wainwright, written in 1973.

High Court Deputy Judge Nicholas Strauss QC said that in late 1997 or early 1998 Williams and Chambers wrote Jesus in a Camper Van, and EMI Music Publishing and BMG Music Publishing acquired the copyright.

The original included the line: ''Every good man gets a little hard luck sometimes.''

The Loudon Wainwright version ran: ''Every Son of God gets a little hard luck sometimes, especially when he goes round saying he is the way.''

The Williams song contained the lines: ''I suppose even the Son of God gets it hard sometimes, especially when he goes round saying I am the way.''

Ludlow Music had agreed to consent to the Williams song but a dispute arose over its demand for a half share in the copyright.

EMI had described the demand as excessive and offered 25%.

The final Williams album stated that the lyrics had been reproduced ''by kind permission of Ludlow''.

The judge said Williams, Chambers, EMI and BMG accepted that they used elements of the Loudon Wainwright version, I am the way (New York), but denied that they had used what could be regarded as a ''substantial part''.

The judge said: ''In my view, the extent of the copying is substantial, although not by much.''

One out of four verses had been copied, and Jesus in a Camper Van took the central idea from the Loudon Wainwright version that the Son of God attracted bad luck by going round saying ''I am the way''.

''I think that this is of sufficient substance to amount to an infringement of copyright,'' the judge added.

Ludlow was now entitled to damages or an account of what it considered it was owed by way of profits.

The judge said: ''The claimants are entitled to substantial damages, possibly including exemplary damages, and to have the court determine the amount rather than be forced to accept the defendants' assessment, however generous.''

A bad day in court for Williams was balanced to some extent by the announcement that he heads the nominations for this year's MTV Europe Music Awards.

The former Take That star is shortlisted for five prizes including best pop act, best male and best UK and Ireland act.

Williams' single Rock DJ has also been nominated for the best song and best video awards.

DJ-turned-chart star, Sonique, has bagged four nominations including best song for his hit Feels So Good.

Rap superstar Wyclef Jean, of the Fugees, host of the awards in Stockholm, on November 16, announced the shortlist in London yesterday.

Rock band Jon Bon Jovi, rapper Eminem, Britney Spears, Mel C, Travis and Madonna are each in the running for three awards at the seventh annual bash which goes out to a potential worldwide TV audience of more than one billion.

Performers at the event include Williams, the Spice Girls, Ronan Keating and U2. Viewers around Europe vote for the winners.