CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (Unaudited) - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014
Revenues
Interest revenue	$ 9,096	$ 13,076	$ 28,596	$ 34,760
Licenses Revenue	580	0	580	575
Total revenues	124,618	164,594	412,390	464,150
Operating expenses
General and administrative	8,450	5,686	23,545	17,188
Operating income	116,168	158,908	388,845	446,962
Non-operating expense, net
Interest and other income, net	87	75	294	207
Interest expense	(5,901)	(9,387)	(21,710)	(29,770)
Losses on Extinguishment of Debt	0	0	0	(6,143)
Total non-operating expense, net	(5,814)	(9,312)	(21,416)	(35,706)
Income before income taxes	110,354	149,596	367,429	411,256
Income tax expense	40,895	47,361	135,208	144,083
Net income	$ 69,459	$ 102,235	$ 232,221	$ 267,173
Net income per share
Basic (in Dollars per Share)	$ 0.42	$ 0.64	$ 1.42	$ 1.70
Net income per diluted share (in Dollars per Share)	$ 0.42	$ 0.61	$ 1.42	$ 1.62
Weighted average shares outstanding
Basic (in Shares)	163,560	160,268	163,314	157,274
Diluted (in Shares)	163,742	166,894	163,899	165,141
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	$ 119,222	$ 123,916	$ 363,916	$ 355,008
Acquired rights [Member]
Revenues
Royalty revenues	$ (4,280)	$ 27,602	$ 19,298	$ 73,807