Hey DogsInCars (love the name and the picture),

I can't speak for Linda, but I believe she said "collaborator" and would imagine she had an agreement with the person, just that she only worked with them online.

No, someone cannot claim ownership to your song without your permission. If someone offers a suggestion and you take it, it becomes less clear, legally and I Am Not A Lawyer. My guess is that if they simply give you an idea, you can run with it, but if you use a good amount of their words, then you've accepted them as a co-writer, again IANAL. My suggestion is to only offer advice freely and clearly, and state so in your post. If you want to cowrite, contact that person and ask. If you want to use someone's advice who did not give upfront permission, contact that person and ask.

And, of course, IANAL.

All the Best,
Mike

You've got to know your limitations. I don't know what your limitations are. I found out what mine were when I was twelve. I found out that there weren't too many limitations, if I did it my way. -Johnny Cash

It's only music.
-niteshift

Mike Dunbar Music