Quarterly Financial Data (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Sep. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2011	Mar. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Sep. 30, 2010	Jun. 30, 2010	Mar. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
QUARTERLY FINANCIAL DATA (unaudited) [Abstract]
Licenses Revenue	$ 20,795	$ 50,585	$ 39,746	$ 61,130	$ 13,102	$ 63,949	$ 15,006	$ 39,772	$ 172,256	$ 131,829	$ 67,340
Royalty Expense	6,458	15,592	8,588	13,089	3,996	14,508	2,877	3,911	43,727	25,292	15,673
Contingent legal fees	5,547	12,328	13,039	9,367	2,295	9,739	3,465	4,407	40,281	19,906	15,945
Litigation and licensing expenses - patents	2,205	3,501	3,761	3,538	2,927	2,835	4,433	3,696	13,005	13,891	14,055
Amortization of Intangible Assets	1,427	1,946	2,600	3,772	1,389	1,963	1,876	1,703	9,745	6,931	4,634
Verdict insurance proceeds	0	(12,451)	0	0	0	0	0	0	(12,451)	0	0
Verdict insurance proceeds related costs	0	7,661	0	0	0	0	0	0	7,661	0	0
General and Administrative Expense	8,662	8,748	8,302	9,981	6,291	6,388	6,056	6,332	35,693	25,067	21,070
Research, consulting and other expenses - business development	1,445	850	1,335	708	835	461	453	372	4,338	2,121	1,689
Total operating costs and expenses	25,744	38,175	37,625	40,455	17,733	35,894	19,160	20,421	141,999	93,208	73,066
Operating Income (Loss)	(4,949)	12,410	2,121	20,675	(4,631)	28,055	(4,154)	19,351	30,257	38,621	(5,726)
Interest and investment income	18	25	24	29	52	44	20	19	96	135	302
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations before Income Taxes, Extraordinary Items, Noncontrolling Interest	(4,931)	12,435	2,145	20,704	(4,579)	28,099	(4,134)	19,370	30,353	38,756	(5,424)
Income Tax Expense (Benefit)	635	(1,889)	(306)	(7,148)	(1,115)	(317)	13	(321)	(8,708)	(1,740)	(209)
Net income including noncontrolling interests in operating subsidiaries	(4,296)	10,546	1,839	13,556	(5,694)	27,782	(4,121)	19,049	21,645	37,016	(5,633)
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	107	257	300	(1,203)	424	(3,107)	255	(537)	(539)	(2,965)	(5,657)
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Parent	$ (4,189)	$ 10,803	$ 2,139	$ 12,353	$ (5,270)	$ 24,675	$ (3,866)	$ 18,512	$ 21,106	$ 34,051	$ (11,290)
Earnings Per Share, Basic	$ (0.10)	$ 0.26	$ 0.05	$ 0.35	$ (0.16)	$ 0.75	$ (0.12)	$ 0.60	$ 0.53	$ 1.05	$ (0.38)
Earnings Per Share, Diluted	$ (0.10)	$ 0.25	$ 0.05	$ 0.34	$ (0.16)	$ 0.70	$ (0.12)	$ 0.55	$ 0.51	$ 0.97	$ (0.38)
Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding, Basic	41,418,470	41,292,819	40,994,082	35,182,811	33,879,777	32,794,553	31,664,869	30,847,403	39,743,433	32,306,322	29,914,801
Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding, Diluted	41,418,470	42,857,880	42,453,782	36,448,005	33,879,777	35,105,354	31,664,869	33,411,093	41,258,297	35,081,611	29,914,801