IP can be licensed or purchased, but I rather 
doubt hanken are the former since the character 
is such a valuable asset of the studio.  

I'd guess that hanken are licensed just like 
software, with specific rights to use. 

*However* I doubt that most the hanken in 
collectors hands imply any rights at all. Any 
half baked IP license would not let you transfer 
rights to other parties except under very 
specific conditions such as change of control 
(anyone here own a studio? ^_^). 

- Chi