Agree on some of those Dick, but not all
"if new songs are copyrighted and always sung as written, can they become folk songs according to 1954 definition?."
They became folk songs by passing through a process that no longer excists
Copyright has nothing to do with their definition one way or another - it's just a malignant force used to pick your pockets as far as folk clubs are concerned
"nearly 50 years later there is still a uk folk club scene despite the efforts of many people to fuck it up"
Sort of - and very much under threat, as can be seen here
Jim Carroll