I get the impression that some are attacking a straw man. As I read, no one contributing to this thread, with one doubtful exception, has criticized Dylan or anyone else merely for using public domain material. I, at least, consider it commendable of Dylan to have engaged in the so-called "folk process" in this way. My original inquiry was simply to get opinions about Dylan's sources. The thread has since developed to address the etiquette of creative copying, addressing in particular the question of acknowledgement of sources. But I have looked this thread over more than once, and I can't find anyone clearly condemning creative copying per se.

Speaking of creative copying, this page was recently mentioned on a copyright-related web site at Harvard. It demonstrates Handel's use of another composer's melody.

T.