Speaking as an archivist, making a copy of something for preservation purposes is justifiable. It can also be seen as an ethical action, if it serves the interest of a community (in this case, fanfic readers), and is responsibly carried out. Given that the original author never took them down, that you have exercised due diligence in trying to locate/contact the original author, that you intend to post them with full acknowledgement of the original author as the creator, and that you are doing so not for any kind of gain but for the allowed purpose of preservation, I'd say that you are on solid ground to go ahead.
no subject
Date: 2017-05-07 12:01 am (UTC)