GNUing question

[Square Avenue <dfinton d umn edu>]

Maybe this isn't the *best* place to ask this question, but since this
will ultimately benefit (I hope) the whole GTK/GTK--/Gnome thing maybe
someone here could give me a few quick pointers.

As some of you may remember, I'm working on a fractal program using GTK--.
I plan on releasing this eventually under the GNU public license when:

a)  The general structure of the program is in place
b)  It actually generates a fractal

(b) is more or less completed, but I'm actively working on (a), which
right now involves getting the data structures set up properly (I've got
moderately high ambitions for this thing :).  But I digress.

After visiting the GNU homepage, the directions on how to GNU a piece of
software is relatively straightforward, except for one thing.  Basically,
it says I need to copyright the software first.  My question is, to what
extent do I copyright my software?  Do I go through the process of
paying a gov't agency and "officially" copyrighting it or do I
just slap a "(C)1998 David Finton" somewhere, plant the public licenses
where needed, and hope for the best?  (I live in the state of Minnesota,
if that helps).

I want to get a more or less alpha program out there by this summer.  Any
help on this would be greatly appreciated.  Thanks!

                                      - Dave

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  Name:  David Finton                  | "All free software is in Beta.  If
 Email:  dfinton@d.umn.edu             |  there is a free software package
   Web:  http://www.d.umn.edu/~dfinton |  bearing the version number 1.0 or
                                       |  greater, it is obsolete and must
                                       |  be replaced immediately by a
                                       |  newer, better Beta version."
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