According to the Underdogs, Pepper's Adventure's in Time is now freeware but Abandonia states it is still protected. What is the status of it?

According to Abandonia's Oldware List it is still protected. And since Tom works eagerly on this subject I can assure you that it definately is protectzed. Sierra On-Line follows the 15-years rule I guess...!?

maybe not...
since when did you say it was freeware, mario1245?

Well according to the Underdogs

http://www.the-underdogs.info/game.php?id=814

The game is now freeware

I'm guessing there stating it as freeware as Mark Seibert released the game for download on his site

http://www.markseibert.com/the_full_game.htm

According to a statement of "Adventure-Treff" the former musician of Sierra Mark Seibert offers this game for download without having the explicit right from Sierra. But since this message is quite old and the game is still up on his site, yes, it might be freeware...
Adventure-Treff