v2.3.0.15
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies (Narrative) (Details) (USD $)
9 Months Ended12 Months Ended
Jul. 01, 2011
Sep. 30, 2011
Sep. 24, 2010
Sep. 25, 2009
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]    
Maximum credit exposure 5.00%  
Percent of revenue from significant customer 13.00%12.00%10.00%
Gain on redemption of auction rate certificates  $ 10,900,000 
Net losses from Put Rights on auction rate certificates  9,500,000 
Goodwill 263,260,000264,580,000261,121,000
Discount rate for fair value of goodwill13.50%   
Effective tax rate for measurement of fair value of goodwill30.00%   
Market capitalization4,800,000,000   
Percent of fair value of entity to its carrying value190.00%   
Intangible assets with definite lives, useful life, minimum years 2  
Intangible assets with definite lives, useful life, maximum years 15  
Stock-based compensation expense 43,665,000[1]28,815,000[1]22,422,000[1]
Advertising expense 13,600,00014,600,0009,700,000
Transaction and re-measurement gains/losses (300,000)1,900,000700,000
Maximum [Member]
    
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]    
Corrective royalties, percentage of license revenue 1.00%  
Internal Use Software [Member]
    
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]    
Intangible assets with definite lives, useful life, minimum years 3  
Intangible assets with definite lives, useful life, maximum years 5  
Dolby Entertainment Technology [Member]
    
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]    
Goodwill$ 268,000,000   
[1]We also recognized $0.7 million, $1.2 million, and $0.3 million in fiscal 2009, 2010, and 2011, respectively, of tax benefit from certain exercises of incentive stock options and shares issued under our ESPP, which is not included in the table above.