CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Revenues
Interest revenue	$ 30,404	$ 36,202	$ 48,020
Product revenue, net	31,669	0	0
License and other	(126)	723	575
Total revenues	244,301	590,448	581,225
Cost of Revenue	4,065	0	0
Operating expenses
Amortization of intangible assets	12,028	0	0
General and administrative	39,790	36,090	34,914
Selling and marketing	538	0	0
Research and development	3,820	0	0
Change in fair value of anniversary payment and contingent consideration	(3,716)	0	0
Asset Impairment Charges	3,735	0	0
Acquisition-related costs	3,564	0	0
Loss on extinguishment of notes receivable	51,075	3,979	0
Total operating expenses	114,899	40,069	34,914
Operating income	129,402	550,379	546,311
Non-operating expense, net
Interest and other income, net	588	368	315
Interest expense	(18,267)	(27,059)	(39,211)
Gain (loss) on extinguishment of debt	(2,353)	6,450	(6,143)
Total non-operating expense, net	(20,032)	(20,241)	(45,039)
Income before income taxes	109,370	530,138	501,272
Income tax expense	45,711	197,343	179,028
Net Income (Loss), Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	63,659	332,795	322,244
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	53	0	0
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	$ 63,606	$ 332,795	$ 322,244
Net income per share
Basic (in Dollars per Share)	$ 0.39	$ 2.04	$ 2.04
Diluted (in Dollars per Share)	$ 0.39	$ 2.03	$ 1.86
Weighted average shares outstanding
Basic (in Shares)	163,805	163,386	158,224
Diluted (in Shares)	164,192	163,554	173,110
Cash dividends declared per common share (in Dollars per Share)	$ 0.10	$ 0.60	$ 0.60
Queen et al. patents [Member]
Revenues
Royalty Revenue	$ 166,158	$ 485,156	$ 486,888
Acquired rights [Member]
Revenues
Royalty Revenue	$ 16,196	$ 68,367	$ 45,742