I'm sure you know of the case where the McPeake's attempted and failed to sue Rod Stewart over Wild Mountain Thyme (aka Braes of Ballquidder) - some time ago now but they were still pretty bitter about if a few years ago when they spoke at the Willie Clancy Summer School.
'Bout time somebody stamped on the idea of copyrighting 'arrangements' - all folksongs are 'arrangements' by their very nature.
On the other hand, maybe it's time some of the superstars (Rod Stewart springs to mind) were asked to donate to the upkeep of folk music.
Not a folk song of course, but Ewan and Peggy once gave me a list of artists who had never paid royalties for recording 'First Time Ever' (pre- Roberta Flack) - Ewan said rather wryly, "I wouldn't mind if they'd made a half-decent job of it"
We have a copy of their 'Chamber of Horrors' versions - great listening.
Jim Carroll