The modules, unless otherwise assigned, are copyright the owners. The way cpan is run, the owner of the module is able to remove the files from cpan (when, in theory, they will be pulled to backpan).
I've emailed Abe Timmerman, because I wouldn't mind adopting the module, but to no avail.
Please describe what you mean by 'but to no avail'. I don't see a reason why the module could not be adopted (assuming that there is no show stopper in the copyright). There is even an adoption procedure on CPAN.