Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss) (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Revenues:
Royalty and license	$ 51,804immr_RoyaltyAndLicenseRevenue	$ 46,154immr_RoyaltyAndLicenseRevenue	$ 28,989immr_RoyaltyAndLicenseRevenue
Product sales	0us-gaap_SalesRevenueGoodsNet	105us-gaap_SalesRevenueGoodsNet	1,982us-gaap_SalesRevenueGoodsNet
Development, services, and other	1,133us-gaap_TechnologyServicesRevenue	1,211us-gaap_TechnologyServicesRevenue	1,198us-gaap_TechnologyServicesRevenue
Total revenues	52,937us-gaap_Revenues	47,470us-gaap_Revenues	32,169us-gaap_Revenues
Costs and expenses:
Cost of revenues (exclusive of amortization of intangibles shown separately below)	460us-gaap_CostOfRevenue	462us-gaap_CostOfRevenue	1,188us-gaap_CostOfRevenue
Sales and marketing	10,896us-gaap_SellingAndMarketingExpense	9,338us-gaap_SellingAndMarketingExpense	6,775us-gaap_SellingAndMarketingExpense
Research and development	11,793us-gaap_ResearchAndDevelopmentExpense	10,883us-gaap_ResearchAndDevelopmentExpense	8,421us-gaap_ResearchAndDevelopmentExpense
General and administrative	23,754us-gaap_GeneralAndAdministrativeExpense	23,104us-gaap_GeneralAndAdministrativeExpense	22,464us-gaap_GeneralAndAdministrativeExpense
Amortization of intangibles	67us-gaap_AmortizationOfIntangibleAssets	79us-gaap_AmortizationOfIntangibleAssets	49us-gaap_AmortizationOfIntangibleAssets
Total costs and expenses	46,970us-gaap_CostsAndExpenses	43,866us-gaap_CostsAndExpenses	38,897us-gaap_CostsAndExpenses
Operating income (loss)	5,967us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss	3,604us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss	(6,728)us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss
Interest and other income	352us-gaap_InterestAndOtherIncome	68us-gaap_InterestAndOtherIncome	170us-gaap_InterestAndOtherIncome
Income (loss) from continuing operations before provision for income taxes	6,319	3,672	(6,558)
Benefit (provision) for income taxes	(2,196)us-gaap_IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	36,483us-gaap_IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	(792)us-gaap_IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit
Income (loss) from continuing operations	4,123	40,155	(7,350)
Discontinued operations (Note 11):
Gain on sales of discontinued operations, net of provision for income taxes of $0, $0 and $97, respectively	0	0	153
Net income (loss)	4,123us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss	40,155us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss	(7,197)us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss
Basic net income (loss) per share:
Continuing operations	$ 0.15	$ 1.42	$ (0.27)
Discontinued operations	$ 0.00	$ 0.00	$ 0.01
Total	$ 0.15us-gaap_EarningsPerShareBasic	$ 1.42us-gaap_EarningsPerShareBasic	$ (0.26)us-gaap_EarningsPerShareBasic
Shares used in calculating basic net income (loss) per share	28,246	28,190	27,735
Diluted net income (loss) per share:
Continuing operations	$ 0.14	$ 1.37	$ (0.27)
Discontinued operations	$ 0.00	$ 0.00	$ 0.01
Total	$ 0.14us-gaap_EarningsPerShareDiluted	$ 1.37us-gaap_EarningsPerShareDiluted	$ (0.26)us-gaap_EarningsPerShareDiluted
Shares used in calculating diluted net income (loss) per share	29,144	29,338	27,735
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax
Change in unrealized gains (losses) on short-term investments	(10)	3	(9)
Total other comprehensive income (loss)	(10)	3	(9)
Total comprehensive income (loss)	$ 4,113us-gaap_ComprehensiveIncomeNetOfTax	$ 40,158us-gaap_ComprehensiveIncomeNetOfTax	$ (7,206)us-gaap_ComprehensiveIncomeNetOfTax

Licensing revenue is 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. Royalty revenue includes revenue earned during the period from the leasing or otherwise lending to a third party the entity's rights or title to certain property. Royalty revenue is derived from a percentage or stated amount of sales proceeds or revenue generated by the third party using the entity's property. Examples of property from which royalties may be derived include patents and oil and mineral rights.

No definition available.