The copyright police have had laws passed that give them the power to do what they do. (Before that, they could do nothing.) I've heard "power" defined as "the extent to which you can inconvenience others".

Apparently, the copyright police are very powerful people.

Right or wrong, the law is whatever the Supreme Court eventually winds up saying it is at any given moment. I've always given away my music more than not. Still do that. The songs were rarely mine anyhow. Their historical obscurity usually provided anonymity. When they were mine, I never copyrighted them. Didn't want to. Was thrilled (got my kicks) when someone thought one of the 3 songs I've ever bothered to write and show to people was actually a part of the ORAL TRADITION. I've always figured that I had set up a musical antique shop and, to put a plastic table in the window (I.E. a blatantly pop-type song), was not only pretty much outrageous, but not true to my own views of what the music I'd dedicated my life to was actually all about. (IT WAS'T FOLK MUSIC!)

Treat 'em as you would a bear in the woods; wear a bell---make some minimal noise so you don't startle 'em unexpectedly---and then walk away as quickly as you can in the other direction.

Art Thieme