[BUG] when publishing a scoped module to an org that doesn't exist, npm is a bit too helpful

[bnb]

Is there an existing issue for this?

• I have searched the existing issues

This issue exists in the latest npm version

• I am using the latest npm

Current Behavior

• I want to publish @myspace/bnb
• I verify that @myspace is not taken as a scope
• I create my package and run npm publish --access public
• npm "helpfully" tells me that @myspace/bnb is not published and that I should ask the maintainer to publish it or do so myself
  • that is what I'm trying to do?

Expected Behavior

• I want to publish @myspace/bnb
• I verify that @myspace is not taken as a scope
• I create my package and run npm publish --access public
• npm tells me that @myspace/bnb cannot be published by me because the organization does not exist and that I should go create the organization before trying to publish it

Steps To Reproduce

1. create package under a scope of an org that doesn't exist
2. try to publish
3. get told that the publish failed and that you should try to publish

Environment

• npm: 8.5.3

[ljharb]

doesn't tom own myspace

[wraithgar]

We removed the bug the maintainer language in 8.5.5 https://github.com/npm/cli/blob/latest/CHANGELOG.md#v855-2022-03-17

#4572

[wraithgar]

All the cli knows is that it got a 404, it doesn't know whether or not the organization exists.