Modders should be able to claim their work as abandonware and nobody can use that data unless they get permission, regardless if the modder is working on it right now or not. They probably will when they have time. No need to announce that they are.
As for the same year as the abandon mod that people want to use, they can make the same year but create your own by scratch or use a mod that's freeware. Simple as that and if you don't have permission of the abandonware, then don't use it.