-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 JIW/thEHoorfVPmafHuRJVwuVmJ/++B7Lw6kMkd7L2JjCiSn6uXSSFgs3oBhHWPU
 ViskaotCchfgxh0X6lnX7g==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001296499-05-000003.txt : 20051219
<SEC-HEADER>0001296499-05-000003.hdr.sgml : 20051219
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20051219143259
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001296499-05-000003
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20051219
FILED AS OF DATE:		20051219
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20051219

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Binn Evan
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001296499

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-15949
		FILM NUMBER:		051272177

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		BUSINESS PHONE:		818-988-6200

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		7240 HAYVENHURST AVE
		STREET 2:		SUITE 230
		CITY:			VAN NUYS
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			91406-2848

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			INTERNATIONAL MICROCOMPUTER SOFTWARE INC /CA/
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000814929
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SERVICES-PREPACKAGED SOFTWARE [7372]
		IRS NUMBER:				942862863
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			CA
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0630

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		100 ROWLAND WAY
		STREET 2:		SUITE 300
		CITY:			NOVATO
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94945
		BUSINESS PHONE:		4158784000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		100 ROWLAND WAY
		STREET 2:		SUITE 300
		CITY:			NOVATO
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94945
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2005-12-19</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000814929</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>INTERNATIONAL MICROCOMPUTER SOFTWARE INC /CA/</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>imsi</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001296499</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Binn Evan</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>7240 HAYVENHURST AVE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>SUITE 230</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>VAN NUYS</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>91406-2848</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>International Microcomputer Software, Inc. (Common Stock)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2005-12-19</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>5000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>1.05</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>30000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Robert O'Callahan</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2005-12-19</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----