If you have a site dedicated to sharing and distributing open source software, it is a wise decision to have a software copyright statement that explains the limits of use for your software, as well as the limits of your responsibility for those who use your software. I also recommend getting an attorney to look over the statement before posting it just to be sure there are no legal issues that you may be unaware of.

A software copyright statement doesn't have to be a 10 page booklet on the law or the protections that copyright offers; it should be a simple short paragraph stating the basics and protecting you from litigation and/or responsibility. Your software copyright statement should also establish your ownership of the material.

A software copyright statement is part of the process to protect your software; it is also a significant deterrent to those who would abuse your copyright and/or your kindness to use and distribute your software. Even if you are charging people for the use of your software, you still need to protect the labor you have put into making not only the software but the distribution method, the website, the payment method and the thousands of other things that are part and parcel of the business model for your software distribution.

Most software developers, coders, and programmers aren't as concerned nearly as much about associating their name with the products they create. They also want to protect future potential income from their software. By protecting all your work with a software copyright statement you are not only protecting current works, but also future works as well.