Piracy is always a tricky subject and can bring out heated discussion and debate in even calm and reasonable people. The problem with the law is, is that it is written in books with sections, subsections, clauses and stipulations. Often times just being human and using common sense and just dealing with people can get you what you want. Most people are reasonable when it comes to this sort of thing.
I find it analogous to some hardware company having a scrap yard full of old hardware they can no longer sell. It's not out on the street yet, so it's not public domain. But it is still junked all the same. If you went into the yard and took one or two pieces you require, who is going to care? Technically it is still property theft in the eyes of the law
(and trespassing if you didn't ask if you could go in
), but the odds of being chased down, hunted and prosecuted for taking something the parent company was junking anyway, are remote at best.
The correct way would be to simply ask the junkyard master if you can have just some bits you need. Usually they will say, hey go knock yourself out. If enough people ask, he will tire of all the requests and eventually make all the junk public domain.
I think the same applies to old forgotten software.
