I read that you can't distribute code that has no license.
Why can't you do that?
Because copyright law says so - it reserves the right to copy to the author.
Will someone punish you for that if author won't sue anybody?
I believe depends on whether you fall under a criminal or civil violation. http://www.chillingeffects.org/copyright/faq.cgi#QID885
Will his descendants inherit the right to sue distributor?
Yes, it's pretty common for estates (of which the descendants are usually the executors) to sue distributors.
1) for commercial advantage or private financial gain
or
3) by distributing copyrighted work where the infringer knew or should have known the work was intended for public distribution.
Does that also cover non-American authors? And distribution of works of American authors abroad?
I read that you can't distribute code that has no license.
Why can't you do that?
Because copyright law says so - it reserves the right to copy to the author.
Will someone punish you for that if author won't sue anybody?
I believe depends on whether you fall under a criminal or civil violation. http://www.chillingeffects.org/copyright/faq.cgi#QID885
Will his descendants inherit the right to sue distributor?
Yes, it's pretty common for estates (of which the descendants are usually the executors) to sue distributors.