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They signed over Copyright.

Isn't a better analogy that they willingly gifted away their garage with everything in it under a _promise_ that they can still use the car?

Honestly, to me the only way out seems to exercise the licensee rights and fork.

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Nitpick, but in general a verbal promise in exchange for something of value would be considered a legally binding contract in the US.

I think not just US, also Switzerland among other places. But either way, Copyright was signed over, and that has real implications. Although, in this case I gather that initially the Copyright owner for the given project was Microsoft, then some other foundation, and now .NET foundation. So, it's not like the maintenaners signed over anything they had, really. As sad as it is, legally it has never been theirs. Good thing the license protects some freedoms.

Forking is still one way this may resolve. The .NET Foundation can decide to provide other options.

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