I would be very surprised if his contract didn't have the word "exclusive" in key places, which this change of ownership will now make incorrect, creating an actionable tort (in my layperson understanding). I like what the author is trying to do here but I expect it to fail when inevitably challenged.
That’s the thing with the public domain; it’s irrevocable. He’s already done it. What he has done cannot be undone. Unless a court decides that because he have an exclusive license to DC he cannot release his rights to the public domain, the worst that can happen is that the copyright is in the public domain and he has broken his contract with DC and thus is liable.
