Chris Muller wrote:
 >>No one will touch code without a copyright declaration.
 >
 > ...
 >
 >>Code without copyright no one will *touch*.
 >
 >
 > A copyright declaration increases the restrictions on a piece of 
code; wouldn't
 > no copyright be less-restrictive?  What do you mean by "touch"?
 >
 > I don't understand this..

IANAL but... :)

Copyright exists regardless of declaration.
Declaration of copyright simply makes ownership and rights understood 
and known by all parties.

Copyright and "copyrights" are distinct and separate from licensing 
rights and obligations.

Copyright asserts ownership of creation.
Licensing asserts rights of what can and cannot be done with said 
creation by non-owners of said creation.

As others stated the best route IMO is simply to use MIT/BSD which 
declare both copyrights and licensed rights in a very well understood 
way by individuals and business.

An individual may also place their works in the public domain.
But this too must be done in a declarative manner. Once in the public 
domain, the creation may be used by anyone for any purpose.

Silence, is a very dangerous area to enter into with regard to 
copyrights and licensing.

Declarations of intent are much better.

A business should not touch, use, reuse, distribute, etc. items they 
have no documentation of rights for. Leaves far too much room for liability.

My 2+cents. :)

Jimmie