v2.4.1.9
Obligations Senior Convertible Note, Note Hedge and Warrant Transaction (Details) (USD $)
Share data in Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified
12 Months Ended 1 Months Ended 3 Months Ended 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Dec. 31, 2012
Apr. 24, 2012
Mar. 31, 2011
Dec. 31, 2011
Apr. 04, 2011
Mar. 29, 2011
Mar. 30, 2011
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                  
Senior Notes $ 230,000,000us-gaap_SeniorNotes $ 230,000,000us-gaap_SeniorNotes         $ 230,000,000us-gaap_SeniorNotes    
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Effective Percentage             7.00%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateEffectivePercentage    
Interest Expense, Debt, Excluding Amortization 5,750,000us-gaap_InterestExpenseDebtExcludingAmortization 5,750,000us-gaap_InterestExpenseDebtExcludingAmortization 5,750,000us-gaap_InterestExpenseDebtExcludingAmortization            
Accretion of debt discount (9,022,000)us-gaap_AccretionExpense (8,423,000)us-gaap_AccretionExpense (7,862,000)us-gaap_AccretionExpense            
Amortization of Financing Costs 1,303,000us-gaap_AmortizationOfFinancingCosts 1,303,000us-gaap_AmortizationOfFinancingCosts 1,303,000us-gaap_AmortizationOfFinancingCosts            
Senior Convertible Note, Note Hedge, and Warrant Transaction Interest Expense 16,075,000idcc_SeniorConvertibleNoteNoteHedgeAndWarrantTransactionInterestExpense 15,476,000idcc_SeniorConvertibleNoteNoteHedgeAndWarrantTransactionInterestExpense 14,915,000idcc_SeniorConvertibleNoteNoteHedgeAndWarrantTransactionInterestExpense            
Convertible Note Hedge 1 [Member]                  
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                  
Proceeds from (Payments for) Other Financing Activities       37,100,000us-gaap_ProceedsFromPaymentsForOtherFinancingActivities
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= idcc_ConvertibleNoteHedge1Member
         
Convertible Note Hedge 2 [Member]                  
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                  
Proceeds from (Payments for) Other Financing Activities       5,600,000us-gaap_ProceedsFromPaymentsForOtherFinancingActivities
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= idcc_ConvertibleNoteHedge2Member
         
Convertible Note Hedge [Member]                  
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                  
Proceeds from (Payments for) Other Financing Activities       42,700,000us-gaap_ProceedsFromPaymentsForOtherFinancingActivities
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= idcc_ConvertibleNoteHedgeMember
         
Convertible Note/ Hedge Warrant, net [Member]                  
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                  
Proceeds from (Payments for) Other Financing Activities     10,900,000us-gaap_ProceedsFromPaymentsForOtherFinancingActivities
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= idcc_ConvertibleNoteHedgeWarrantNetMember
           
Note Warrant [Member]                  
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                  
Proceeds from Issuance of Warrants         27,600,000us-gaap_ProceedsFromIssuanceOfWarrants
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= us-gaap_NoteWarrantMember
       
Note Warrant2 [Member]                  
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                  
Proceeds from Issuance of Warrants         4,100,000us-gaap_ProceedsFromIssuanceOfWarrants
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= idcc_NoteWarrant2Member
       
Convertible Debt [Member] | Convertible Notes 2016 [Member]                  
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                  
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage             2.50%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= idcc_ConvertibleNotes2016Member
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= us-gaap_ConvertibleDebtMember
   
Debt Instrument, Convertible, Conversion Ratio     17.958us-gaap_DebtInstrumentConvertibleConversionRatio1
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= idcc_ConvertibleNotes2016Member
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= us-gaap_ConvertibleDebtMember
           
Debt Conversion, Converted Instrument, Amount     1,000us-gaap_DebtConversionConvertedInstrumentAmount1
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= idcc_ConvertibleNotes2016Member
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= us-gaap_ConvertibleDebtMember
           
Debt Instrument, Convertible, Conversion Price             $ 55.69us-gaap_DebtInstrumentConvertibleConversionPrice1
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= idcc_ConvertibleNotes2016Member
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= us-gaap_ConvertibleDebtMember
   
Convertible Debt 1 [Member]                  
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                  
Senior Notes               200,000,000us-gaap_SeniorNotes
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= idcc_ConvertibleDebt1Member
 
Convertible Note Overallotment [Member]                  
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                  
Senior Notes               30,000,000us-gaap_SeniorNotes
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= idcc_ConvertibleNoteOverallotmentMember
 
Equity [Member] | Convertible Debt [Member]                  
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                  
Class of Warrant or Right, Outstanding               3,500us-gaap_ClassOfWarrantOrRightOutstanding
/ us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis
= us-gaap_EquityMember
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= us-gaap_ConvertibleDebtMember
500us-gaap_ClassOfWarrantOrRightOutstanding
/ us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis
= us-gaap_EquityMember
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= us-gaap_ConvertibleDebtMember
Derivative, Price Risk Option Strike Price               64.0909us-gaap_DerivativePriceRiskOptionStrikePrice
/ us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis
= us-gaap_EquityMember
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= us-gaap_ConvertibleDebtMember
 
Senior Notes             43,000,000us-gaap_SeniorNotes
/ us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis
= us-gaap_EquityMember
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= us-gaap_ConvertibleDebtMember
   
Senior Convertible Notes [Equity net of tax]             28,000,000idcc_SeniorConvertibleNotesEquityNetOfTax
/ us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis
= us-gaap_EquityMember
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= us-gaap_ConvertibleDebtMember
   
Payments of Debt Issuance Costs           1,500,000us-gaap_PaymentsOfDebtIssuanceCosts
/ us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis
= us-gaap_EquityMember
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= us-gaap_ConvertibleDebtMember
     
other long-term assets [Member] | Convertible Debt [Member]                  
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                  
Payments of Debt Issuance Costs           6,500,000us-gaap_PaymentsOfDebtIssuanceCosts
/ us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis
= idcc_OtherLongTermAssetsMember
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= us-gaap_ConvertibleDebtMember
     
Other Long-term Liabilities [Member] | Convertible Debt [Member]                  
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                  
Senior Notes             $ 187,000,000us-gaap_SeniorNotes
/ us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis
= idcc_OtherLongTermLiabilitiesMember
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= us-gaap_ConvertibleDebtMember