Actually I'm casual about the use of my own songs, love to hear them sung (even if mangled), not really bothered about the money (as you'd see if you visited my site), and am deeply honoured when any are mistaken for trad.

But the principle of copyright is important, and not only for financial reasons.

"I do wish you'd desist from hanging a price tag on what, by definition, is common property"

But I'm NOT! Not, not, not, not!!!

I'm reminding people of the price tag that DOES exist on what is NOT common property, but which is being treated as such out of error or laziness!

Let me put it for the third or fourth time:

Because people confuse your 'oral/source/collected' definition (which DOES refer to common property) with Solder Boy's 'it's-all-one-on-going-process' definition (which includes SOME common property but ALSO includes much which is NOT common propety) people can end up treating copyright works as out-of-copyright.

That's what I'm seeking to prevent.

Partly because its not fair, but also because it devalues those who make this music worth listening to and playing in the first place. The people who can turn your soul with a cadence. Bring a lump to your throat with a phrase. Set the hairs on your neck waving with story. Make your blood rush with a tune.

We need properly to respect songs and tunes, by respecting their makers, and hear less of the 'its good enough for folk' and 'I do it this way because that's how I play/sing' attitudes.

I do love the inclusive, let's-all-join-in nature of the UK folk scene, but - and it's a BIG but, we won't see this music treated with respect by the population at large until the material and its makers are respected.

Recognising the true value of this music by learning to recognise the value of its makers, is the only way I can think of to turn the situation round.

And if that also means that the folk scene then becomes able support more great writers and players, who can afford to tour and make CDs and make this music their life's priority - and so help tell the rest of the world see how great it is (while also taking nothing away from all of us who want to join in and play our part) - so much the better!