Selected Quarterly Financial Data (Schedule Of Selected Quarterly Financial Data) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data | 3 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Sep. 30, 2011 | Jul. 01, 2011 | Apr. 01, 2011 | Dec. 31, 2010 | Sep. 24, 2010 | Jun. 25, 2010 | Mar. 26, 2010 | Dec. 25, 2009 | Sep. 30, 2011 | Sep. 24, 2010 | Sep. 25, 2009 | |
| Selected Quarterly Financial Data [Abstract] | |||||||||||
| Licensing | $ 205,747 | $ 181,790 | $ 214,627 | $ 188,176 | $ 178,429 | $ 170,326 | $ 195,944 | $ 165,775 | $ 790,340 | $ 710,474 | $ 594,697 |
| Product sales | 30,842 | 28,395 | 26,347 | 46,027 | 40,255 | 52,651 | 39,839 | 47,657 | 131,611 | 180,402 | 95,967 |
| Services | 7,179 | 8,814 | 9,052 | 8,509 | 9,123 | 7,292 | 7,638 | 7,784 | 33,554 | 31,837 | 28,839 |
| Total revenue | 243,768 | 218,999 | 250,026 | 242,712 | 227,807 | 230,269 | 243,421 | 221,216 | 955,505 | 922,713 | 719,503 |
| Cost of revenue | 25,642 | 27,933 | 28,457 | 29,139 | 26,343 | 40,056 | 29,623 | 35,793 | 111,171 | 131,815 | 64,768 |
| Gross margin | 218,126 | 191,066 | 221,569 | 213,573 | 201,464 | 190,213 | 213,798 | 185,423 | 844,334 | 790,898 | 654,735 |
| Income before taxes and controlling interest | 116,632 | 90,451 | 122,494 | 111,066 | 98,622 | 98,082 | 133,929 | 106,379 | 440,643 | 437,012 | 371,419 |
| Net income attributable to Dolby Laboratories, Inc. | $ 79,071 | $ 61,748 | $ 82,061 | $ 86,387 | $ 65,011 | $ 63,452 | $ 85,898 | $ 69,086 | $ 309,267 | $ 283,447 | $ 242,991 |
| Earnings per share, Basic | $ 0.72 | $ 0.55 | $ 0.73 | $ 0.77 | $ 0.58 | $ 0.56 | $ 0.75 | $ 0.61 | $ 2.78 | $ 2.50 | $ 2.15 |
| Earnings per share, Diluted | $ 0.71 | $ 0.55 | $ 0.72 | $ 0.76 | $ 0.57 | $ 0.55 | $ 0.74 | $ 0.59 | $ 2.75 | $ 2.46 | $ 2.11 |
| Shares outstanding, Basic | 110,063 | 111,494 | 112,140 | 112,035 | 112,486 | 113,254 | 113,985 | 114,085 | 111,444 | 113,452 | 113,101 |
| Shares outstanding, Diluted | 110,662 | 112,349 | 113,346 | 113,713 | 114,276 | 115,282 | 115,995 | 116,138 | 112,554 | 115,388 | 115,367 |
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- Definition The aggregate cost of goods produced and sold and services rendered during the reporting period. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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- Definition The amount of net income (loss) for the period per each share of common stock or unit outstanding during the reporting period. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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- Definition The amount of net income (loss) for the period available to each share of common stock or common unit outstanding during the reporting period and to each share or unit that would have been outstanding assuming the issuance of common shares or units for all dilutive potential common shares or units outstanding during the reporting period. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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- Definition Aggregate revenue less cost of goods and services sold or operating expenses directly attributable to the revenue generation activity. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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- Definition Sum of operating profit and nonoperating income or expense before Income or Loss from equity method investments, income taxes, extraordinary items, and noncontrolling interest. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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- Definition Revenue earned during the period relating to consideration received from another party for the right to use, but not own, certain of the entity's intangible assets. Licensing arrangements include, but are not limited to, rights to use a patent, copyright, technology, manufacturing process, software or trademark. Licensing fees are generally, but not always, fixed as to amount and not dependent upon the revenue generated by the licensing party. An entity may receive licensing fees for licenses that also generate royalty payments to the entity. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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- Definition The portion of profit or loss for the period, net of income taxes, which is attributable to the parent. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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- Definition Aggregate revenue recognized during the period (derived from goods sold, services rendered, insurance premiums, or other activities that constitute an entity's earning process). For financial services companies, also includes investment and interest income, and sales and trading gains. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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- Definition Aggregate revenue during the period from the sale of goods in the normal course of business, after deducting returns, allowances and discounts. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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- Definition Aggregate revenue during the period from services rendered in the normal course of business, after deducting allowances and discounts. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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- Definition The average number of shares or units issued and outstanding that are used in calculating diluted EPS or earnings per unit (EPU), determined based on the timing of issuance of shares or units in the period. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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- Definition Number of [basic] shares or units, after adjustment for contingently issuable shares or units and other shares or units not deemed outstanding, determined by relating the portion of time within a reporting period that common shares or units have been outstanding to the total time in that period. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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