Here's what we know:
* Traditional origins: The song is considered to be a traditional folk song with origins in the 1800s. It is thought to have been brought to the US by enslaved Africans.
* First recorded version: The first recorded version of "Black Betty" is attributed to Huddie Ledbetter (Leadbelly) in 1939. He is credited with popularizing the song and making it known to a wider audience.
* Ram Jam's version: The most popular version of "Black Betty" today is the 1977 rendition by the rock band Ram Jam. However, Ram Jam did not write the song. They only recorded a cover version.
* Songwriting credits: The song is traditionally attributed to "Traditional" or "Anonymous". There is no definitive author who has been credited with writing the song.
Therefore, no single person or entity owns the royalties for "Black Betty." The song's traditional origins mean that the rights are likely held by various publishers and licensing bodies, making it difficult to determine who exactly benefits financially from the song's use.