Markus Kohm writes:
 > > just look at the many packages around on ctan with copyright notices of
 > > some sort (prior to lppl) that are "authorless" by now.
 >
 > Don't think about packages prior to lppl because the problem will stay there
 > even after changing lppl.

i was giving that as an example for a situation that you may not want to make
worse. I was not indicating that one can do anything about such files (other
than chasing down their authors and talk to them)

 > Current lppl already gives a chance to friendly overtake an unsupported
 > package: rename it.

of course. but do you want to every time rename a package just because people
vanish? of course you can do that as a last resort, but it is rather
counterproductive unless the original author really does wish this. And i
think the general feeling (and that is why Donald brought this up) is that in
most cases the original authors would be quite happy to see their packages
maintained after they stop, while at the same time they see a need to put it
under LPPL (instead of GPL) to insure integrety.

frank