It's not a case of handing or selling back rights, as I understand it. The games were developed as works-for-hire under contract to LucasArts. Therefore Ron Gilbert didn't own the rights once completed.
"So this idea came out from your head, and completely made by you, but because you took some money, its like your act of creation never happened. We will deprive you of your very minds creativity and create holes in which you can never discuss again."
.... And here I thought software and content piracy was unethical.
It's not a case of handing or selling back rights, as I understand it. The games were developed as works-for-hire under contract to LucasArts. Therefore Ron Gilbert didn't own the rights once completed.