Yeah, Christine sold her catalogue but I don't know whether it was outright or just a 25 year right to the revenue. Someone here once said she had sold it for $150m.
I remember the fiasco over The Beatles catalogue being bought by Michael Jackson in the 80s. McCartney went nuts, but eventually the ownership reverted to the original owners, I think, by length of time. I don't know the terminology (I'm a trust lawyer, not an Intellectual Property specialist!).