Sure, they hold the copyright. What I question is weather they have the code. Both are needed to do anything with it. If they dont have the code its beneficial

Sure, they hold the copyright. What I question is weather they have the code. Both are needed to do anything with it. If they dont have the code its beneficial to find that out - then if/when someone finds a copy you've got half of what's needed, and that's bargaining power. This is all rather petty for some obsolete software, but never underestimate a company response to interest in something they thought had no value.