Bug#466714: bogus advice in copyright-without-copyright-notice

[Peter Eisentraut <peter_e@gmx.net>]

Package: lintian
Version: 1.23.45
Severity: normal

Lintian says:

"""
N:   A
N:   copyright notice must consist of Copyright, Copr., or the Unicode
N:   symbol of C in a circle followed by the years and the copyright
N:   holder.
"""

I don't believe this is true.  It is just as valid to say,

"""
This software was written by Joe Hacker and you can use it according to the
following conditions.
"""

According to the relevant international conventions on copyright matters,
copyright exists independent of it being mentioned explicitly, as you appear
to believe.

Please supply the reasons for your claim.