If you have granted rights, there are a variety of circumstances in which you can get your rights back. First, your contract may provide for a reversion of rights, by granting rights back and/or by including an out of print clause. Second, even if your contract purports to be irrevocable, and to last for the full term of the copyright, the copyright law [PDF] gives you the opportunity to get most of your rights back 35 years after you entered into the agreement. You have this “termination right” even if your contract says not only that you gave everything away for all time but also that you promised not to try to get your rights back.
