Both Hasbro and Takara Tomy have ownership rights over the Transformers characters, but the exact distribution of ownership is a bit more complex.
The Transformers franchise originated as a joint venture between the American toy company Hasbro and the Japanese toy company Takara Tomy. Hasbro holds the rights to Transformers in North America and several other regions, while Takara Tomy holds the rights in Japan and Asia.
The collaboration between Hasbro and Takara Tomy began in the 1980s when Takara Tomy's toy line "Diaclone" and "Microman" were rebranded as Transformers for the North American market by Hasbro. Hasbro also developed an accompanying animated television series and comic books to support the toy line's success.
Over time, both companies have continued to collaborate on the development of new Transformers toys, media, and other related products. The ownership and licensing arrangements between Hasbro and Takara Tomy may vary depending on specific agreements for different aspects of the franchise.
In summary, while both Hasbro and Takara Tomy have ownership stakes and collaborate closely on the Transformers franchise, the exact distribution of ownership and licensing rights can vary depending on geographical regions and specific agreements.