Segment Information (Segment Results) (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended												12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013		Sep. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013		Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012		Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012		Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2013		Dec. 31, 2012		Dec. 31, 2011
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	$ 50,595		$ 48,958	$ 49,850	[1]	$ 56,793	$ 67,264	[2]	$ 59,088	$ 65,526	[1]	$ 66,964	$ 206,196	[3]	$ 258,842	[3]	$ 335,686	[3]
Cost of revenue													79,091	[4]	103,731	[4]	126,637	[4]
Impairment of deferred costs													0		0		19,962
Gain on sale of patent and other technology assets, net of costs													0		116,353		0
Gross profit	30,519	[2]	29,968	30,331	[1]	36,287	42,166	[2]	33,844	39,564	[1]	39,537	127,105		155,111		189,087
Operating expenses													197,913		215,901		226,697
Operating (loss) income	(14,441)	[2]	(28,437)	(16,504)	[1]	(11,426)	(6,888)	[2]	(23,175)	104,168	[1]	(18,542)	(70,808)		55,563		(37,610)
RealPlayer Group
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue													75,206		91,469		102,378
Cost of revenue													16,220		21,544		21,534
Impairment of deferred costs													0		0		633
Gross profit													58,986		69,925		80,211
Operating expenses													60,484		55,223		59,829
Operating (loss) income													(1,498)		14,702		20,382
Mobile Entertainment
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue													81,181		100,318		135,452
Cost of revenue													47,608		57,670		74,524
Impairment of deferred costs															0		19,329
Gross profit													33,573		42,648		41,599
Operating expenses													35,839		52,614		61,921
Operating (loss) income													(2,266)		(9,966)		(20,322)
Games
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue													49,809		67,055		97,856
Cost of revenue													13,359		21,828		30,835
Gross profit													36,450		45,227		67,021
Operating expenses													47,177		51,890		62,595
Operating (loss) income													(10,727)		(6,663)		4,426
Corporate
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Cost of revenue													1,904		2,689		(256)
Gain on sale of patent and other technology assets, net of costs													0		116,353		0
Operating expenses													54,413		56,174		42,352
Operating (loss) income													$ (56,317)		$ 57,490		$ (42,096)

[1] In the quarter ended June 30, 2012, we recognized a net gain of $117.9 million from the sale to Intel of certain patents, patent applications, and related rights. The net gain for the full year 2012 totaled $116.4 million. See Note 1, Description of Business and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies, for additional details.

[2] In the quarter ended December 31, 2013, we sold our remaining shares of common stock in LoEn Entertainment for a net gain of $21.4 million, as described in further detail in Note 5.

[3] December 31, 2012 December 31, 2011 December 31, 2010Components of Cost of Revenue License Fees8,538 11,689 17,794Service Revenue70,553 92,042 108,843Net Revenue Costs79,091 103,731 126,637

[4] December 31, 2013 December 31, 2012 December 31, 2011Components of Revenue License Fees43,709 56,640 69,644Service Revenue162,487 202,202 266,042Net Revenue206,196 258,842 335,686