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Patents (Tables) | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2016
Patents [Abstract] |
Patents | The gross carrying amounts and accumulated amortization related to investments in intangible assets as of December 31, 2016 and 2015 are as follows (in thousands):
|  | 2016 |  | 2015
Gross carrying amount - patents |  | $ | 444,362 |  |  | $ | 444,137 |
Accumulated amortization - patents(1) |  | (358,043 | ) |  | (281,495 | )
Patents, net |  | $ | 86,319 |  |  | $ | 162,642 |
Patent costs and accumulated amortization related to patent sales and disposals [Table Text Block] | For the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014, capitalized patent costs, accumulated amortization, and sales proceeds related to patent-related sales and disposals are as follows (in thousands):
|  | 2016 |  | 2015 |  | 2014
Capitalized patent costs |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | 500 |  |  | $ | 3,000 |
Accumulated amortization |  | — |  |  | 120 |  |  | 298 |
Sales proceeds |  | — |  |  | 750 |  |  | 3,500 |

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