Patent Assets, Net (Detail) - Patent Assets, Net (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Patent assets	$ (7,393)	$ (4,848)
Accumulated amortization	(3,867)	(3,130)
Patent assets, net	236,349rpxc_PatentAssetsNet	219,954rpxc_PatentAssetsNet
Patents
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Patent assets	(665,290)	(529,526)	(403,875)
Accumulated amortization	(428,941)	(309,572)	(204,561)
Patent assets, net	236,349	219,954	199,314
Additions \| Patents
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Patent assets	(136,468)	(126,501)
Accumulated amortization	(119,694)	(105,533)
Dispositions \| Patents
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Patent assets	(704)	(850)
Accumulated amortization	$ (325)	$ (522)

Carrying amount of finite-lived patent assets after accumulated amortization as of the balance sheet date of the costs pertaining to the exclusive legal rights granted to the owner to exploit an invention or a process for a period of time specified by law. Such costs may have been expended to directly apply and receive patent rights, or to acquire such rights.

No definition available.

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- Definition

Accumulated amount of amortization of assets, excluding financial assets and goodwill, lacking physical substance with a finite life.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 350

-SubTopic 30

-Section 50

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (a)(1)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26713463&loc=d3e16323-109275

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- Definition

Amount before amortization of assets, excluding financial assets and goodwill, lacking physical substance with a finite life.

+ References

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