All else aside, many collectors and artists have had some major
stones to claim copyright on all and sundry. Collectors like the
Lomaxes have in one breath claimed that they simply took down
the words and melody of traditional songs and published them
verbatim (to get their living), then turned right around and
stuck a 'c' within a circle next to same.

To me, that's just legalized theft of public property.

Same with some of the Clancy Bros. stuff...applying 3 chords
and a melody line with improvised harmonies to something that
had been 'owned' by Ireland for generations is the stuff of
shady business managers, and does the artists themselves no
credit whatsoever.

I think we're through that period to a great extent...the one
where someone can add their 5 percent and claim it as their own
and drag someone into court for singing it.

Arrangement is one thing, but most of this stuff was pure
transcription!