Indemnification Obligations	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2016
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]
Indemnification Obligations	Indemnification Obligations In connection with the sale by MRV of Source Photonics Inc. ("SPI") in October 2010, MRV agreed to indemnify the buyer against certain claims brought after the closing for prior-occurring events. Most of the indemnification obligations have expired, however any indemnification obligations related to intellectual property extend until the third anniversary of the closing, while indemnification related to employee benefits, environmental liabilities and taxes extend until their applicable statute of limitations has run plus 90 days, and indemnification obligations are not time limited for title and ownership representations. These indemnification obligations are subject to a $1.0 million deductible and a $20.0 million cap, and we have purchased an insurance policy to protect against such obligations. The Company has received a notice from SPI, advising the Company of a tax audit for periods including tax returns filed prior to the acquisition of SPI by the buyer. MRV believes that it has meritorious defenses to the extent a formal indemnification claim is asserted and has submitted the potential claim to its insurer. MRV intends to vigorously contest any claim; however, no formal legal proceeding has been commenced, and MRV can provide no assurance that such claim would not have a material adverse effect on its business, operating results or financial condition. Our agreements for the sale of certain business; CES in March 2012, Alcadon and Interdata in October 2012, and Tecnonet in December 2015, include customary indemnification obligations running to the respective buyers. In connection with the sale of CES, MRV agreed to indemnify the buyer for the representations and warranties made in the sale and purchase agreement and purchased an insurance policy to protect against any claims of indemnification related to the representations and warranties. In the normal course of business to facilitate sales of its products, MRV indemnifies other parties, including customers, lessors and parties to other transactions with us, with respect to certain matters. The Company has agreed to hold the other parties harmless against losses arising from a breach of representation or covenants, for intellectual property infringement, or other claims made against certain parties. These agreements may limit the time within which an indemnification claim can be made and the amount of the claim. In addition, the Company has indemnification obligations to its current and certain former officers, directors, employees and agents, as set forth in the Company's bylaws. We cannot estimate the amount of potential future payments, if any, that it might be required to make as a result of these obligations. Over the last decade, the Company has not incurred any significant expense as a result of obligations of this type that were not otherwise covered by our insurance policies. Accordingly, the Company has not accrued any amounts for such indemnification obligations. However, there can be no assurances that expenses will not be incurred under these indemnification provisions in the future. We have agreements whereby our officers and directors are indemnified for certain events or occurrences while the officer or director is, or was, serving at our request in such capacity. The maximum potential amount of future payments we could be required to make under these indemnification agreements is unlimited; however, we retain directors and officers insurance that reduces our exposure and enables us to recover portions of amounts paid. As a result of our insurance coverage, we believe the estimated fair value of these indemnification agreements is minimal. Accordingly, no liabilities have been recorded for these agreements as of September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015.

Indemnification Obligations

In connection with the sale by MRV of Source Photonics Inc. ("SPI") in October 2010, MRV agreed to indemnify the buyer against certain claims brought after the closing for prior-occurring events. Most of the indemnification obligations have expired, however any indemnification obligations related to intellectual property extend until the third anniversary of the closing, while indemnification related to employee benefits, environmental liabilities and taxes extend until their applicable statute of limitations has run plus 90 days, and indemnification obligations are not time limited for title and ownership representations. These indemnification obligations are subject to a $1.0 million deductible and a $20.0 million cap, and we have purchased an insurance policy to protect against such obligations.

The Company has received a notice from SPI, advising the Company of a tax audit for periods including tax returns filed prior to the acquisition of SPI by the buyer. MRV believes that it has meritorious defenses to the extent a formal indemnification claim is asserted and has submitted the potential claim to its insurer. MRV intends to vigorously contest any claim; however, no formal legal proceeding has been commenced, and MRV can provide no assurance that such claim would not have a material adverse effect on its business, operating results or financial condition.

Our agreements for the sale of certain business; CES in March 2012, Alcadon and Interdata in October 2012, and Tecnonet in December 2015, include customary indemnification obligations running to the respective buyers.

In connection with the sale of CES, MRV agreed to indemnify the buyer for the representations and warranties made in the sale and purchase agreement and purchased an insurance policy to protect against any claims of indemnification related to the representations and warranties.

In the normal course of business to facilitate sales of its products, MRV indemnifies other parties, including customers, lessors and parties to other transactions with us, with respect to certain matters. The Company has agreed to hold the other parties harmless against losses arising from a breach of representation or covenants, for intellectual property infringement, or other claims made against certain parties. These agreements may limit the time within which an indemnification claim can be made and the amount of the claim.

In addition, the Company has indemnification obligations to its current and certain former officers, directors, employees and agents, as set forth in the Company's bylaws.

We cannot estimate the amount of potential future payments, if any, that it might be required to make as a result of these obligations. Over the last decade, the Company has not incurred any significant expense as a result of obligations of this type that were not otherwise covered by our insurance policies. Accordingly, the Company has not accrued any amounts for such indemnification obligations. However, there can be no assurances that expenses will not be incurred under these indemnification provisions in the future.

We have agreements whereby our officers and directors are indemnified for certain events or occurrences while the officer or director is, or was, serving at our request in such capacity. The maximum potential amount of future payments we could be required to make under these indemnification agreements is unlimited; however, we retain directors and officers insurance that reduces our exposure and enables us to recover portions of amounts paid. As a result of our insurance coverage, we believe the estimated fair value of these indemnification agreements is minimal. Accordingly, no liabilities have been recorded for these agreements as of September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015.