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INVESTMENTS | 9 Months Ended
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Jul. 31, 2013
Schedule of Investments [Abstract] |
Summary of Investment Holdings, Schedule of Investments [Text Block] | 5. INVESTMENTS Short-term Investments At October 31, 2012, we had marketable securities consisting of certificates of deposit of $500,000, which were classified as "available-for-sale securities" and reported at fair value. Upon maturity, $500,000 was deposited in the Company’s money market account. Investment in Videocon Our investment in Videocon is classified as an "available-for-sale security" and reported at fair value, with unrealized gains and losses excluded from operations and reported as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) in shareholders’ deficiency. The original cost basis of $16,200,000 was determined using the specific identification method. The fair value of the Videocon GDRs is based on the price on the Luxembourg Stock Exchange, which price is based on the underlying price of Videocon’s equity shares which are traded on stock exchanges in India with prices quoted in rupees. ASC 320 “Investments-Debt and Equity Securities” (“ASC 320”) and SEC guidance on other than temporary impairments of certain investments in equity securities requires an evaluation to determine if the decline in fair value of an investment is either temporary or other than temporary. Unless evidence exists to support a realizable value equal to or greater than the carrying cost of the investment, other than temporary impairment should be recorded. At each reporting period we assess our investment in Videocon to determine if a decline that is other than temporary has occurred. As of July 31, 2013 a write-down of the investment, on a cumulative basis, of approximately $10,818,000 had been recorded, which established a new cost basis of approximately $5,382,000. The fair value of investment in Videocon as of July 31, 2013 and October 31, 2012, and the unrealized loss for the nine month period ended July 31, 2013, are as follows:
|  | Investment in Videocon
Fair Value as of October 31, 2012 |  | $ 4,728,367
Reversal of unrealized loss at October 31, 2012 |  | 653,684
Unrealized loss |  | (1,112,910)
Fair Value as of July 31, 2013 |  | $ 4,269,141
Investment in ZQX Advisors, LLC In August 2009, we entered into an Engagement Agreement with ZQX Advisors, LLC (“ZQX”) to assist us in seeking business opportunities and licenses for our electrophoretic display technology. Concurrently with entering into the Engagement Agreement, we acquired a 19.5% ownership interest in ZQX. On January 21, 2013, we terminated the Engagement Agreement with ZQX, but currently retain our 19.5% interest in ZQX. We have classified our interest in ZQX of approximately $48,000 as a reduction of additional paid-in capital within shareholders’ deficiency since this investment in ZQX consists entirely of our equity securities. During the three months ended July 31, 2013, we received approximately $24,000 representing our share of the proceeds from the sale of CopyTele common stock by ZQX.

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- Definition The entire disclosure for the information required in the supplementary schedule applicable to management investment companies summarizing the listing of holdings of unaffiliated investments. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 946 -SubTopic 320 -Section S99 -Paragraph 4 -Subparagraph (SX 210.12-12C) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6955306&loc=d3e611225-123010 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 12C -Article 12 + Details
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