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RSE, I rather like the idea of a carrot to encourage release into the public domain, I think it has merit as a possible means of encouraging corporations (especially) to let go of things they're currently hoarding but not doing anything with. I'm not certain it is likely to help with truly orphaned works (as per other posts on this thread), but it might work well in combination with...
Catlady / FizzyWater, I also like the idea of a more reasonable basic period (the suggested Life + 25 sits well with me) that can be renewed at a nominal cost. I say "nominal cost" because (for me at least) the point is primarily to ensure that some action is required to show a continued interest in the copyright. This would answer rkomar's point about creators wanting to control publication while still effecting the release of truly orphaned work.
Of course the international aspects of copyright probably make such changes unlikely, but continuing extensions that affect all creations, rather than just those with active interest, seems rather silly.
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