Note 1 - The Company and Operations

12 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2012

Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements Disclosure [Text Block]

1.  THE COMPANY AND OPERATIONS

Daily Journal Corporation (the “Company”) publishes newspapers and web sites covering California and Arizona, as well as the California Lawyer magazine, and produces several specialized information services. It also serves as a newspaper representative specializing in public notice advertising. Sustain Technologies, Inc. (“Sustain”), a wholly-owned subsidiary, supplies case management software systems and related products to courts and other justice agencies, including administrative law organizations.  These courts and agencies use the Sustain family of products to help manage cases and information electronically and to interface with other critical justice partners.  Sustain’s products are designed to help users manage electronic case files from inception to disposition, including calendaring and accounting, report and notice generation, the implementation of standards and business rules and other corollary functions, and to enable justice agencies to extend electronic services to the public and bar members.  In December 2012, the Company purchased all of the outstanding stock of New Dawn Technologies, Inc. (“New Dawn”) based in Logan, Utah, which provides products and services similar to those of Sustain to more than 350 justice agencies in 39 states, three U.S. territories and two countries.  The acquisition expands the Company’s position in the marketplace.  Essentially all of the Company’s operations are based in California, Arizona, Utah and Colorado.