[SeanToria]

Strictly legally speaking we'd have to wait a very long time, 70 years after the death of the creator, or 95-129 for work created anonymously or for hire from date of publication, yadda yadda yadda. That's why I said ethically in my original comment as legally it's strictly not kosher. But ethically it's more grey, still no point arguing it as if the author did decide to come back and start sharing work again it sure would suck if all there old work was being freely distributed in their absence. That would discourage many from sharing work in the first place I image, the idea that if you lose interest in the subject matter for long enough you lose all rights to it.

I think the only fair way it could be handled would be with distributors, the various stores that sell the items, a clause in the agreement saying that after 5, 10 or however many years the items may be distributed freely but not as part of a for-profit enterprise (ie not for sale or available via a subscription service). Still that would have it's own issues and abuses as well.

All the more reason to save whatever you come across that you like and hold onto it, because down the road it may not be available again.