Contract with Customer, Asset, Disposal

No definition available.

Name:	pdli_ContractWithCustomerAssetDisposal
Namespace Prefix:	pdli_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Contract asset payments received

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	pdli_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

[Line Items] for Contract assets [Table]

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Non ASC 606 revenue

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	pdli_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount, after allowance for credit loss, of right to consideration from customer for product sold and service rendered in normal course of business.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02(3))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 944
-SubTopic 210
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.7-03(5))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=119400593&loc=d3e572229-122910

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount, after allowance for credit loss, of right to consideration in exchange for good or service transferred to customer when right is conditioned on something other than passage of time.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 606
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 8
-Subparagraph (a)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=118956577&loc=SL49130549-203045

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 606
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 1
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=118944033&loc=SL49130531-203044

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 606
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 3
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=118944033&loc=SL49130533-203044

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ContractWithCustomerAssetNet
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of decrease in right to consideration in exchange for good or service transferred to customer when right is conditioned on something other than passage of time from transfer to receivable due to right to consideration becoming unconditional.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/exampleRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 606
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 10
-Subparagraph (d)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=118956577&loc=SL49130551-203045

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of obligation to transfer good or service to customer for which consideration has been received or is receivable.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 606
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 1
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=118944033&loc=SL49130531-203044

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 606
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-Section 50
-Paragraph 8
-Subparagraph (a)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=118956577&loc=SL49130549-203045

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-Publisher FASB
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-Topic 606
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 2
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=118944033&loc=SL49130532-203044

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount, excluding tax collected from customer, of revenue from satisfaction of performance obligation by transferring promised good or service to customer. Tax collected from customer is tax assessed by governmental authority that is both imposed on and concurrent with specific revenue-producing transaction, including, but not limited to, sales, use, value added and excise.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 606
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 4
-Subparagraph (a)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=118956577&loc=SL49130543-203045

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 606
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 5
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=118956577&loc=SL49130545-203045

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Details

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- Details

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Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	8 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Contract assets [Line Items]
Contract with Customer, Asset, Reclassified to Receivable		$ (6,730)
Contract asset payments received		8,562
Contract assets disposed of		0	$ (5,344)	$ (5,344)
Accounts Receivable, after Allowance for Credit Loss			10,377
Contract with Customer, Asset, after Allowance for Credit Loss		0	3,512
Non ASC 606 revenue	$ 2,100		5,200
Contract with Customer, Liability		0	4,024
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	13,071		30,706	32,028
Europe [Member]
Contract assets [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	2,078		3,438	$ 2,451
Medical devices [Member]
Contract assets [Line Items]
Contract with Customer, Asset, Reclassified to Receivable		0
Contract asset payments received		0
Contract with Customer, Asset, after Allowance for Credit Loss		0	0
Contract with Customer, Liability		0	1,075
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	13,071		25,562
Medical devices [Member] \| North America [Member]
Contract assets [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	6,656		10,155
Medical devices [Member] \| Europe [Member]
Contract assets [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	2,078		3,438
Medical devices [Member] \| Asia [Member]
Contract assets [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	4,137		11,536
Medical devices [Member] \| Other [Member]
Contract assets [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	200		433
Pharmaceutical [Member]
Contract assets [Line Items]
Contract with Customer, Asset, Reclassified to Receivable		(6,730)
Contract asset payments received		8,562
Contract with Customer, Asset, after Allowance for Credit Loss		0	3,512
Contract with Customer, Liability		$ 0	2,949
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	29,479		55,093
Pharmaceutical [Member] \| North America [Member]
Contract assets [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	10,093		26,034
Pharmaceutical [Member] \| Europe [Member]
Contract assets [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	13,008		22,816
Pharmaceutical [Member] \| Asia [Member]
Contract assets [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	6,378		6,243
Pharmaceutical [Member] \| Other [Member]
Contract assets [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	$ 0		$ 0