Joe,

My publisher told me I couldn't include Lula Walls in my last book because the Carter's and Peer had a copyright on it. I had to prove my source. Finally they agreed. They also let me include several songs that I felt were copyrighted- go figure.

Now they won't let me use "You Are My Sunshine," a song I strongly dispute authorship (Jimmie Davis).

Anyway the problem with the Carter's songs is their arrangements of songs became popular. Their chords and melodies may differ enough from their original sources that using a similar version of the song may be a copyright violation- as arrangements are copyrighted.

Richie