Curmudgeon - I've been wondering about this "ownership" thing in our locality for a while. In the jams and song circles I attend, there seems to be somewhat of an ownership implied for songs, but, as discussed above, not for tunes. Those that can play a lead instrument get to play whatever they want.

The song ownership is generally unspoken, and more adhered to by the veterans in the group. There is one fellow who seems to want to do a couple of songs I've done for years almost anytime he sees me show up. I don't know if it's to be competitive, or if seeing me reminds him of those songs and he then does them. I've made no big deal of it, because I know lots of other songs, and his repertoire is limited. We both do them equally well, I'd say, and I can do harmony when he does them.

Another unspoken "rule" here is to try to avoid playing the same song or tune more than once a night, unless requested by a latecomer. That can affect how one feels about who usurps the "right" to a song. Commonsense and politeness usually is a winner, however.