G'day Davo,

There are no valid Australian copyrights in respect of the MacPherson or Cowan versions ... Christina merely wrote down her memory of a tune she had heard .. Marie Cowan merly arrnged Christina's tune and never claimed anything else. Her husband claimed copyright after her death in (?)1939 ... so it's public domain in 1989. Paterson died in 1941, so his published verse became public domain in 1991. American claims to the contrary are ... American!

The exact copyright status of a collected tune (eg the Buderim version) is ... interesting. The singer did not claim composition ... the collectors considered it public domain. The performance is copyright - as a track. I'd wear the green shirt and claim public anon/trad or domain. I can't see anyone having any valid counterclaim (but I'm not a copyright lawyer!). Declan's version would only be 'copyright' in respect of an exact copy of his performance ... What's "exact" mean?

Giac/Mary: Thanks for repairs ... I should have run the new-fangled Clicky Test!

Regards,

Bob Bolton