Well looking through this correspondence here. i would appear that at least this character set it down in writing that these interpretations of folksongs were an intellectual property.

Surely ownership and the rights and responsibilites involved can surely be settled at a date when the possible owner go about their business and put in claims. As a songwriter that is what you have to do. Last year, by looking through the internet I found one of my songs had appeared on a couple of albums and there was a sum of money owing to me.

How many more artists and publishers have neglected to give writers their royalties - without didscovering a single folksong. Writers like John Connolly seem to have gotten the point where finding their work described as traditional seems par for the course. I know Ewan reached that point as well.

I remember owning a Ping Pong and Prance Society book where the Leaving of Liverpool was described as from the singing of Seamus Ennis, I wondfer how many artists who recorded that song have bestowed a similar honour on the man.

Seems to me there is some element of collective responsibility here.