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Recent Accounting Standards, Changes in Accounting Policy Resulting from Adoption of Topic 606 (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands | 3 Months Ended | 6 Months Ended |
--- | --- | --- | ---
Oct. 31, 2018 | Oct. 31, 2017 | Oct. 31, 2018 | Oct. 31, 2017 | Apr. 30, 2018
Assets [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Accounts receivable, net |  | $ 236,207 | [1] |  | $ 236,207 | [1] |  | $ 212,377
Product development assets |  | 64,716 |  |  | 64,716 |  |  | 78,814
Technology, property and equipment, net |  | 286,308 |  |  | 286,308 |  |  | 289,934
Other non-current assets |  | 91,732 |  |  | 91,732 |  |  | 85,802
Liabilities [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Accrued royalties |  | 94,438 |  |  | 94,438 |  |  | 73,007
Contract liability (Deferred revenue) |  | 237,184 | [1] |  | 237,184 | [1] |  | 486,353
Deferred income tax liabilities |  | 140,338 |  |  | 140,338 |  |  | 143,518
Retained earnings |  | 1,870,609 |  |  | 1,870,609 |  |  | 1,834,057
Revenue, net |  | 448,622 |  | $ 451,731 | 859,523 |  | $ 863,175 |
Cost of sales |  | 120,157 |  | $ 119,865 | 234,548 |  | $ 234,653 |
Accounts receivable, net |  | 236,207 | [1] |  | 236,207 | [1] |  | 212,377
Contract liability (Deferred revenue) |  | 237,184 | [1] |  | 237,184 | [1] |  | 486,353
Topic 606 [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Liabilities [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Amounts netted down from accounts receivable, net and deferred revenue |  | 5,800 |  |  | 5,800 |  |  | 59,500
Revenue, net |  | 10,200 |  |  | 11,500 |  |  |
Cost of sales |  | 2,400 |  |  | 2,400 |  |  |
Topic 606 [Member] | Sales Return Reserve Provision [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Assets [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Accounts receivable, net |  | (31,100) |  |  | (31,100) |  |  | (28,300)
Liabilities [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Contract liability (Deferred revenue) |  | 31,100 |  |  | 31,100 |  |  | 28,300
Accounts receivable, net |  | (31,100) |  |  | (31,100) |  |  | (28,300)
Contract liability (Deferred revenue) |  | $ 31,100 |  |  | $ 31,100 |  |  | 28,300
Adjustments due to Adoption [Member] | Topic 606 [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Assets [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Accounts receivable, net | [2] |  |  |  |  |  |  | 93,349
Product development assets |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (3,725)
Technology, property and equipment, net |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (361)
Other non-current assets |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 5,274
Liabilities [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Accrued royalties |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (731)
Contract liability (Deferred revenue) | [2] |  |  |  |  |  |  | 89,364
Deferred income tax liabilities |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 1,400
Retained earnings |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 4,503
Accounts receivable, net | [2] |  |  |  |  |  |  | 93,349
Contract liability (Deferred revenue) | [2] |  |  |  |  |  |  | 89,364
Balances without Adoption of Topic 606 [Member] | Topic 606 [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Assets [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Accounts receivable, net | [1],[3] |  |  |  |  |  |  | 212,377
Liabilities [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Contract liability (Deferred revenue) | [1],[3] |  |  |  |  |  |  | 486,353
Accounts receivable, net | [1],[3] |  |  |  |  |  |  | 212,377
Contract liability (Deferred revenue) | [1],[3] |  |  |  |  |  |  | 486,353
Balances upon Adoption of Topic 606 [Member] | Topic 606 [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Assets [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Accounts receivable, net |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 305,726
Product development assets |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 75,089
Technology, property and equipment, net |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 289,573
Other non-current assets |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 91,076
Liabilities [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Accrued royalties |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 72,276
Contract liability (Deferred revenue) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 575,717
Deferred income tax liabilities |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 144,918
Retained earnings |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 1,838,560
Accounts receivable, net |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 305,726
Contract liability (Deferred revenue) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 575,717
[1] | Due to the adoption of the new revenue standard, the sales return reserve as of October 31, 2018 of $31.1 million is recorded in Contract Liability (Deferred Revenue). In prior periods, it was recorded as a reduction to Accounts Receivable, net on the Condensed Consolidated Statement of Financial Position.
[2] | The adoption of the new revenue standard resulted in the discontinuance of the historical practice of presenting accounts receivable and deferred revenue balances on a net basis for some of our subscription licensing agreements where we have invoiced a customer in advance of the related revenue being recognized and payment has not yet been received. As of April 30, 2018, the amounts that were netted down from accounts receivable and deferred revenue were $59.5 million.
[3] | As noted above, prior period amounts have not been adjusted under the modified retrospective method.

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- Definition Product development assets consist of composition costs and royalty advances to authors. Composition costs, primarily represent the costs incurred to bring an edited commercial manuscript to publication including typesetting, proofreading, design and illustration, etc. Royalty advances to authors are capitalized and, upon publication, are recovered as royalties earned by the authors based on sales of the published works. + References No definition available. + Details
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