Simpson's 'If I Did It' may return in 2007

LOS ANGELES, Dec. 31 (UPI) -- O.J. Simpson's controversial book "If I Did It" may find its way into U.S. bookstores next year once the work's rights return to the former sports star.

While all 400,000 copies of the novel were ordered to be destroyed after News Corp. canceled its publication, Time magazine reported that with the book's rights set to return to Simpson in late 2007, "If I Did It" could ultimately be released.

"If I Did It" is Simpson's hypothetical take on how he would have committed the murders of his ex-wife Nicole Brown and her friend Ron Goldman.

The claim that Simpson could likely get the book's rights and publish it in time for next Christmas comes in the wake of last week's lawsuit from Goldman's father, Fred, who wants the rights as well.

"There was originally an indication they might be open to such an idea (turning all profits over to the victims' families)," Goldman said of his suit. "If they want to be through with this, they should have no problem turning over those rights to us."