CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (Unaudited) - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2014
Revenues
Interest revenue	$ 8,966	$ 12,613	$ 19,500	$ 21,684
Licenses Revenue	0	575	0
Total revenues	138,066	162,752	287,772	299,556
Operating expenses
General and administrative	7,429	6,920	15,095	11,502
Operating income	130,637	155,832	272,677	288,054
Non-operating expense, net
Interest and other income, net	121	82	207	132
Interest expense	(7,199)	(9,858)	(15,809)	(20,383)
Losses on Extinguishment of Debt	0	0	0	(6,143)
Total non-operating expense, net	(7,078)	(9,776)	(15,602)	(26,394)
Income before income taxes	123,559	146,056	257,075	261,660
Income tax expense	45,295	54,001	94,313	96,722
Net income	$ 78,264	$ 92,055	$ 162,762	$ 164,938
Net income per share
Basic (in Dollars per Share)	$ 0.48	$ 0.57	$ 1.00	$ 1.06
Net income per diluted share (in Dollars per Share)	$ 0.47	$ 0.52	$ 0.97	$ 0.94
Weighted average shares outstanding
Basic (in Shares)	163,544	160,256	163,188	155,752
Diluted (in Shares)	165,384	177,228	167,376	175,811
Cash dividends declared per common share (in Dollars per Share)	$ 0.00	$ 0.00	$ 0.60	$ 0.60
Queen et al. patents [Member]
Revenues
Royalty revenues	$ 116,884	$ 115,066	$ 244,694	$ 231,092
Acquired rights [Member]
Revenues
Royalty revenues	$ 12,216	$ 34,498	$ 23,578	$ 46,205