Digressing to bootlegs for a bit longer .... there is a particular guy at the 'car boot sale' at Cropredy each year and I do feel very very irritated that he is openly selling for as much money as a brand new CD (and I don't mean Tesco prices!) an extensive selection of Richard Thompson bootlegs. How is he allowed to do this at such an event as Cropredy? What does RT get from any of this?
The person you are talking about provided some of the materiel for the RT boxed set, and is thanked in the back of the book - so I guess that he has some kind of arangement!
If a given artist does object to bootlegs, surely the answer is simple - sell your own (as RT does to an extent).
Government Mule sell boots of all their converts through MuleTracks web site, and the Levellers sell recordings of gigs that you can collect on the way out (!).
Personally I don't have a problem with Boots, as they tend to be bought by hardcore fans only anyway. As my Wife ways, if Richard Thompson farted and released it as a CD, I'd buy it. If he wants more of my money the answers simple, put more CD's out!