Note 18 - Income Taxes Income Tax Reconciliation (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
Income Taxes [Abstract]
Provision at statutory rate	$ 1,368,516	$ 734,456	$ 1,007,703
Permanent Differences [Abstract]
Foreign income taxed at different rates	(1,093,508)	(441,044)	(475,967)
Gain on sale of Skype	321,484	0	(498,360)
Joltid settlement	0	0	120,339
Legal entity restructuring	0	(23,649)	184,410
Change in valuation allowance	(787)	1,407	58,670
Stock-based compensation	31,705	7,595	41,436
State taxes, net of federal benefit	21,110	31,003	49,606
Tax credits	(8,039)	(48,745)	(13,352)
Divested business	33,743	0	0
Other	6,435	36,463	15,569
Income Tax Expense (Benefit)	$ 680,659	$ 297,486	$ 490,054

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The sum of the current income tax expense or benefit and the deferred income tax expense or benefit pertaining to continuing operations.

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The portion of the difference between total income tax expense or benefit as reported in the Income Statement and the expected income tax expense or benefit computed by applying the domestic federal statutory income tax rates to pretax income from continuing operations attributable to changes in the valuation allowance for deferred tax assets in the period.

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The portion of the difference between total income tax expense or benefit as reported in the Income Statement and the expected income tax expense or benefit computed by applying the domestic federal statutory income tax rates to pretax income from continuing operations attributable to the disposition of a business (not qualifying for treatment as a discontinued operation) in the period.

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The portion of the difference, between total income tax expense or benefit as reported in the Income Statement for the period and the expected income tax expense or benefit computed by applying the domestic federal statutory income tax rates to pretax income from continuing operations, that is attributable to total foreign income tax expense or benefit. The foreign income tax expense or benefit difference represents the income tax expense or benefit at applicable domestic statutory income tax rates applied to foreign earnings or loss for the period versus the foreign income tax expense or benefit calculated by applying the appropriate foreign tax rates.

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The amount of income tax expense or benefit for the period computed by applying the domestic federal statutory tax rates to pretax income from continuing operations.

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The sum of the differences between total income tax expense or benefit as reported in the Income Statement for the period and the expected income tax expense or benefit computed by applying the domestic federal statutory income tax rates to pretax income from continuing operations attributable to nondeductible expenses under enacted tax laws, or differences in the methodologies used to determine expense amounts for financial statements prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and enacted tax laws.

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The portion of the difference between total income tax expense or benefit as reported in the Income Statement for the period and the expected income tax expense or benefit computed by applying the domestic federal statutory income tax rates to pretax income from continuing operations attributable to differences in the deductibility of incentive stock options and other equity-based compensation costs in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and enacted tax laws.

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The sum of other amounts reflected in the reconciliation of the statutory tax provision (benefit) to the actual tax provision (benefit).

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