Segment Information (Segment Results) (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended												12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014		Sep. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2014		Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013		Sep. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013		Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2014		Dec. 31, 2013		Dec. 31, 2012
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	$ 35,506		$ 34,157	$ 40,825	[1]	$ 45,724	$ 50,595	[2]	$ 48,958	$ 49,850	[1]	$ 56,793	$ 156,212	[3]	$ 206,196	[3]	$ 258,842	[3]
Cost of revenue													76,381	[4]	79,091	[4]	103,731	[4]
Extinguishment of liability						10,600							10,580		0		0
Gain on sale of patent and other technology assets, net of costs													0		0		116,353
Gross profit	17,625	[2]	15,229	20,039	[1]	37,518	30,519	[2]	29,968	30,331	[1]	36,287	90,411		127,105		155,111
Operating expenses													159,564		197,913		215,901
Operating (loss) income	(20,682)	[2]	(20,763)	(18,832)	[1]	(8,876)	(14,441)	[2]	(28,437)	(16,504)	[1]	(11,426)	(69,153)		(70,808)		55,563
RealPlayer Group
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue													39,201		75,206		91,469
Cost of revenue													14,508		16,220		21,544
Gross profit													24,693		58,986		69,925
Operating expenses													55,742		60,484		55,223
Operating (loss) income													(31,049)		(1,498)		14,702
Mobile Entertainment
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue													79,901		81,181		100,318
Cost of revenue													50,399		47,608		57,670
Gross profit													29,502		33,573		42,648
Operating expenses													33,325		35,839		52,614
Operating (loss) income													(3,823)		(2,266)		(9,966)
Games
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue													37,110		49,809		67,055
Cost of revenue													11,074		13,359		21,828
Gross profit													26,036		36,450		45,227
Operating expenses													37,170		47,177		51,890
Operating (loss) income													(11,134)		(10,727)		(6,663)
Corporate
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Cost of revenue													400		1,904		2,689
Extinguishment of liability													(10,580)		0		0
Gain on sale of patent and other technology assets, net of costs													0		0		116,353
Operating expenses													33,327		54,413		56,174
Operating (loss) income													$ (23,147)		$ (56,317)		$ 57,490

[1] In the quarter ended March 31, 2014, certain accrued royalty liabilities of $10.6 million associated with our historical music business, which had originally been recorded based on statutory rates, were extinguished.

[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 Fees8,012 8,538 11,689Service Revenue68,369 70,553 92,042Net Revenue Costs76,381 79,091 103,731

[4] December 31, 2013 December 31, 2012 December 31, 2011Components of Revenue License Fees28,308 43,709 56,640Service Revenue127,904 162,487 202,202Net Revenue156,212 206,196 258,842