| Basis of Presentation and Significant Accounting Policies (Policies) | 12 Months Ended |
| Dec. 31, 2016 |
| Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract] | |
| Basis of Presentation | Basis of Presentation These consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“U.S. GAAP”) and include the accounts of RPX and its wholly owned subsidiaries. All intercompany transactions have been eliminated. |
| Use of Estimates | Use of Estimates The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, contingent assets and liabilities, and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements and reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period covered by the consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. The Company bases its estimates on various factors and information which may include, but are not limited to, history and prior experience, expected future results, new related events and current economic conditions, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. Actual results could differ materially from those estimates. Significant estimates and assumptions made by management include the determination of: • the estimated economic useful lives of patent assets; • the determination of a best estimated selling price of a subscription and patent infringement liability insurance; • the fair value of assets acquired and liabilities assumed for business combinations; • the assumptions and methods used in deriving the fair value of goodwill and intangible assets; • recognition and measurement of current and deferred income taxes, any related valuation allowances, and uncertain tax positions; • the fair value of stock awards issued; • the assumptions and methods used in deriving the fair value of deferred payment obligations; • the estimated reserves for known and incurred but not reported claims |
| Revenue Recognition | Revenue Recognition The Company recognizes revenue in accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 605, Revenue Recognition (“ASC 605”) and related authoritative guidance. Patent Risk Management The primary source of the Company's revenue from its patent risk management services offering is fees paid by its clients under subscription agreements. The Company believes that the subscription component of its patent risk management service offering comprises a single deliverable and thus it recognizes each subscription fee ratably over the period for which the fee applies. Revenue is recognized net of any discounts or other contractual incentives. The Company starts recognizing revenue when all of the following criteria have been met: • Persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists. All subscription fees are supported by an executed subscription agreement. • Delivery has occurred or services have been rendered. The subscription agreement calls for the Company to provide its patent risk management services over a specific term commencing on the agreement effective date. Because services are not on an individualized basis (i.e., the Company generally performs its services on behalf of all of its clients as opposed to each client individually), delivery occurs automatically with the passage of time. Consequently, the Company recognizes subscription revenue ratably. • Seller’s price to the buyer is fixed or determinable. Each client’s annual subscription fee is typically based on a rate card in effect at the time of the client’s initial agreement. A client’s subscription fee is generally determined using its rate card and its normalized operating income, which is defined as the greater of (i) the average of its operating income for the three most recently reported fiscal years and (ii) 5% of its revenue for the most recently reported fiscal year. The fee for the first year of the agreement is typically determined and invoiced at the time of contract execution. The fee for each subsequent year of the agreement is generally calculated and invoiced in advance prior to each anniversary date of the agreement. • Collectability is reasonably assured. Subscription fees are generally collected on or near the effective date of the agreement and again at or near each anniversary date thereof. The Company does not recognize revenue in instances where collectability is not reasonably assured. Generally, the Company's subscription agreements state that all fees paid are non-refundable. In some limited instances, the subscription agreement includes a contingency clause, giving one or both parties an option to terminate the agreement and receive a full refund if contingencies are not resolved within a defined time period. In those instances, revenue will not be recognized until the contingency has been satisfied. The revenue earned during the period between the effective date of the agreement and the contingency removal date is recognized on the contingency removal date. Thereafter, revenue is recognized ratably over the remaining subscription term. The Company's patent risk management clients generally receive a term license to, and a release from all prior damages associated with, patent assets in the Company's portfolio. The term license to each patent asset typically converts to a perpetual license at the end of a contractually specified vesting period, provided that the client is a member at such time. The Company does not view the conversion from term license to perpetual license to be a separate deliverable in its arrangements with its clients because the utility of, access to and freedom to practice the inventions covered by the patent asset is no different between a term and perpetual license. In some instances, the Company accepts a payment from a client to finance part or all of a patent asset acquisition. We refer to such transactions as syndicated acquisitions. The accounting for syndicated acquisitions can be complex and often requires judgments on the part of management as to the appropriate accounting treatment. In accordance with ASC 605-45, Revenue Recognition: Principal Agent Considerations , in instances where the Company substantively acts as an agent to acquire patent rights from a seller on behalf of clients who are paying for such rights separately from their subscription agreements, the Company may treat the client payments on a net basis. When treated on a net basis, there may be little or no revenue recognized for such contributions, and the basis of the acquired patent rights may exclude the amounts paid by the contributing client based on our determination that the Company is not the principal in these transactions. In these situations, where the Company substantively acts as an agent, the contributing clients are typically defendants in an active or threatened patent infringement litigation filed by the owner of a patent. The Company's involvement is to assist our clients to secure a dismissal from litigation and a license to the underlying patents. Key indicators evaluated to determine the Company's role as either principal or agent in the transaction include, among others: • the entity to grant the license of the patent(s) is generally viewed as the primary obligor in the arrangement, given that it owns and controls the underlying patent(s) and thus has the absolute authority to grant and deliver any release from past damages and dismissal from litigation, and typically determines the general terms of the license(s) granted; • the Company generally does not have any inventory risk, as its clients often enter into contractual obligations with the Company prior to or contemporaneous to the Company entering into a contractual obligation with the seller; • the Company has pricing latitude as it negotiates client contributions, however, this latitude is often limited as the economics of the transaction ultimately depend on the sales price set by the seller; • the Company is not involved in the determination of the product or service specification and has no ability to change the product or perform any part of the service in connection with these transactions, as the seller owns the underlying patent(s); and • the Company has limited or no credit risk, as each respective client has a contractually binding obligation, such clients are generally of high credit quality and in some instances, the Company collects the client contribution prior to making a payment to the seller. In certain syndicated transactions, the Company may recognize revenue upon the sale of licenses to specific patent assets and/or upon completion of the rendering of advisory services. Revenue recognition for arrangements with multiple deliverables. A multiple-element arrangement may include the sale of a subscription to the Company's patent risk management services and an insurance policy to cover certain costs associated with patent infringement litigation, each of which are individually considered separate units of accounting. Each element within a multiple-element arrangement is accounted for as a separate unit of accounting given that the delivered products have value to the customer on a standalone basis. The Company considers a deliverable to have standalone value if the product or service is sold separately by us or another vendor. The delivery of insurance coverage is not dependent on a client’s subscription to the Company's patent risk management services. While the Company believes its insurance product offering is unique, its clients are able to purchase insurance coverage as a standalone product from other providers. The Company sells the components of its patent risk management services on a standalone basis. Multiple deliverables included in an arrangement are separated into different units of accounting and the arrangement consideration is allocated to the identified separate units based on a relative selling price hierarchy. The Company determines the relative selling price for a deliverable based on its best estimate of selling price ("BESP") for its patent risk management services. The Company has determined that vendor-specific objective evidence ("VSOE") and third-party evidence ("TPE") are not available for its patent risk management deliverables. The Company has determined its BESP for a subscription to our patent risk management services based on the following: • List price, which represents the rates listed on our annual rate card. The Company publishes a standard rate card annually. Each client’s subscription fee is typically calculated using the applicable rate card and its normalized operating income, which is defined as the greater of (i) 5% of the client’s most recently reported fiscal year’s revenue, and (ii) the average of the three most recently reported fiscal years’ operating income of the client. Each client’s annual subscription fee is reset annually based on its normalized operating income for its most recently completed fiscal years. The Company has determined its BESP for its insurance product based on the following: • Actuarially determined factors. Although the Company sells its insurance product both on a standalone basis and as a component of a multiple-element arrangement, the pricing is not affected by the subscription to our patent risk management services. The Company uses an actuarial model that calculates an individual client’s insurance premium based on its projected annual frequency (i.e., number of claims during the policy term) and severity (i.e., the amount which it expects to settle a claim). Discovery Services Revenue from the Company's discovery services is primarily generated from the following: • data hosting fees based on data stored and number of users; • fees for month-to-month delivery of services, such as data processing (conversion of data into organized, searchable electronic database), project management and data collection services; • document review services which assist clients in the manual review of data responsive to a legal matter; and • printing and binding services (paper-based services). The Company enters into agreements pursuant to which the Company offers various discovery services. Clients are generally billed monthly based on contractual unit prices and volumes for services delivered. The agreements are typically for an indefinite period of time, however, they are cancelable at will by either party. The Company is entitled to all fees incurred for services performed. The majority of the Company's discovery services revenue comes from two types of billing arrangements: usage based and fixed fee. Usage-based arrangements require the client to pay based upon predetermined unit prices and volumes for data hosing, data processing and paper-based services. Project management and review hours are billed based upon the number of hours worked by certain client service professionals at agreed upon rates. In fixed-fee billing arrangements, the Company agrees to a pre-established monthly fee over a specified term in exchange for various services. The fees are not tied to the attainment of any contractually defined objectives and the monthly fee is nonrefundable. Based on an evaluation of the discovery services delivered to each client, the Company has determined that each deliverable has stand-alone value to the client as each of the Company’s discovery services can be sold on a stand-alone basis by the Company and the discovery services are available from other vendors. Additionally, discovery services do not carry a significant degree of risk or unique acceptance criteria that would require a dependency on the performance of future services. The Company recognizes revenue from these arrangements based on contractually stated prices. The Company allocates revenue to the various units of accounting in its arrangements based on the best estimate of selling price for each unit of accounting, which are consistent with the stated prices in those arrangements. Based on an evaluation of the discovery services delivered to each client, the Company determined each deliverable has stand-alone value to the client as each of its discovery services can be sold on a stand-alone basis by the Company and the discovery services are available from other vendors. Additionally, discovery services do not carry a significant degree of risk or unique acceptance criteria that would require a dependency on the performance of future services. The Company determines the relative selling price for a discovery services deliverable based on its VSOE, if available, or its BESP, if VSOE is not available. The Company has determined that TPE is not a practical alternative due to differences in its service offerings compared to other parties and the availability of relevant third-party pricing information. The Company allocates revenue to the various units of accounting in its arrangements based on the best estimate of selling price for each unit of accounting, which are consistent with the stated prices in those arrangements. The Company’s discovery services arrangements do not include any substantive general rights of return or other contingencies. Sales and value added taxes collected from clients are not considered revenue and are included in accrued liabilities in the Company's consolidated balance sheets until remitted to the taxing authorities. |
| Accounting fo Payments to Clients | Accounting for Payments to Clients The Company occasionally agrees to provide payments, discounts or other contractual incentives to clients in exchange for specified consideration. The Company accounts for such contract provisions in accordance with ASC 605-50, Revenue Recognition: Customer Payments and Incentives , which requires the Company to offset the amount of the payment, discount or other contractual incentive against revenue if the Company is unable to demonstrate both receipt of an identifiable benefit and determine the fair value of the benefit received |
| Deferred Revenue | Deferred Revenue The Company generally invoices its patent risk management clients upon execution of a new agreement and prior to their anniversary date for existing agreements. The Company records the amount of fees billed as deferred revenue and recognizes such amounts as revenue ratably over the period for which they apply. The Company typically records deferred revenue when it has the legal right to bill amounts owed and the applicable service period has commenced. In an instance where a term has commenced but the fees have not yet been invoiced, the Company records an unbilled receivable. Deferred revenue that will be recognized during the succeeding 12-month period from the respective balance sheet date is recorded as deferred revenue, current, and the remaining portion is recorded as non-current. |
| Accounts Receivable | Accounts Receivable Accounts receivable are recorded at the invoiced amount and are non-interest bearing. The Company maintains an allowance for doubtful accounts to reserve for potentially uncollectible receivables. The allowance for doubtful accounts is based on the expected ability to collect accounts receivable. The Company reviews accounts receivable to identify amounts due from clients which are past due to identify specific clients with known disputes or collectability issues. In determining the allowance for doubtful accounts, the Company makes judgments about the creditworthiness of significant customers based on ongoing credit evaluations. The Company's allowance for doubtful accounts was $0.9 million and nil as of December 31, 2016 and 2015 , respectively. |
| Concentration of Risk | Concentration of Risk The Company is subject to concentrations of credit risk principally attributable to cash, cash equivalents, investments, accounts receivable and other receivables. The Company’s non-restricted cash balances deposited in U.S. banks are non-interest bearing and are insured up to the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”) limits. Cash equivalents primarily consist of institutional money market funds and municipal bonds denominated primarily in U.S. dollars. Investment policies have been implemented that limit purchases of debt securities to investment-grade securities. As of December 31, 2016 , one client individually accounted for 39% of accounts receivable. Three clients individually accounted for 32% , 18% , and 14% of accounts receivables at December 31, 2015 . No client accounted for 10% or more of revenue in any of the years ended December 31, 2016 , 2015 or 2014 . |
| Fair Value Measurements | Fair Value Measurements The Company applies fair value accounting for all financial assets and liabilities and non-financial assets and liabilities that are recognized or disclosed at fair value in the financial statements on a recurring basis. The Company defines fair value as the price that would be received from selling an asset or that would be paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. When determining the fair value measurements for assets and liabilities, which are required to be recorded at fair value, the Company considers the principal or most advantageous market in which the Company would transact and the market-based risk measurements or assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability, such as risks inherent in valuation techniques, transfer restrictions and credit risk. Fair value is estimated by applying the following hierarchy, which prioritizes the inputs used to measure fair value into three levels and bases the categorization within the hierarchy upon the lowest level of input that is available and significant to the fair value measurement: Level 1 – Valuations based on quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities and readily accessible by the Company at the reporting date. Level 2 – Valuations based on inputs other than quoted prices included within Level 1 that are observable for assets or liabilities, either directly or indirectly through market corroboration, for substantially the full term of the financial instrument. Level 3 – Valuations based on inputs that are unobservable. The carrying amounts of the Company’s financial instruments, which include cash equivalents, short-term investments, accounts receivable, other receivables and accounts payable, approximate their fair values due to their short maturities. The carrying amounts of the Company's deferred payment obligations held as of December 31, 2015 were valued using Level 3 valuation techniques which approximate fair value |
| Cash and Cash Equivalents | Cash and Cash Equivalents The Company’s cash and cash equivalents principally consist of institutional money market funds and municipal bonds denominated primarily in U.S. dollars. Cash equivalents are highly liquid, short-term investments having an original maturity of 90 days or less that are readily convertible to known amounts of cash |
| Short-Term Investments | Short-Term Investments The Company holds short-term investments in municipal and corporate bonds primarily maturing between 90 days and 12 months, commercial paper, U.S. government and agency securities, and equity securities. The Company considers its investments as available to support current operations. As a result, the Company classifies its investments, including those with stated maturities beyond twelve months, as current assets in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets. The Company primarily classifies these securities as “available-for-sale” and carries them at fair value in the consolidated balance sheets. Unrealized gains or losses are recorded, net of estimated taxes, in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), a component of stockholders’ equity. Realized gains and losses are recognized upon sale or exchange. The specific identification method is used to determine the cost basis of fixed income securities sold. The Company periodically evaluates its investments for impairment due to declines in market value considered to be “other-than-temporary.” This evaluation consists of several qualitative and quantitative factors, including the Company’s ability and intent to hold the investment until a forecasted recovery occurs, as well as any decline in the investment quality of the security and the severity and duration of the unrealized loss. In the event of a determination that a decline in market value is other-than-temporary, the Company will recognize an impairment loss, and a new cost basis in the investment will be established. During the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015 , the Company recorded an other-than-temporary impairment on its short-term investments of nil and $5.1 million , respectively, in its consolidated statements of operations within other expense, net |
| Property and Equipment | Property and Equipment, Net Property and equipment are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation. Depreciation is computed using a straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the related assets, which are generally three to five years. Maintenance and repairs are charged to expense as incurred, and improvements and betterments are capitalized. When assets are retired or otherwise disposed of, the cost and accumulated depreciation are removed from the consolidated balance sheet and any resulting gain or loss is reflected in the consolidated statement of operations in the period realized. Leasehold improvements are amortized on a straight-line basis over the term of the lease, or the useful life of the assets, whichever is shorter |
| Internal-Use Software and Website Development Costs | Internal-Use Software and Website Development Costs The Company capitalizes development costs related to internal-use software and its website and records such amounts as property and equipment, net, in its consolidated balance sheets. These costs include personnel-related expenses and consultant fees incurred during the application development stages of the project. Costs related to preliminary project activities, minor enhancement and maintenance, and post implementation activities are expensed as incurred. Internal-use software is amortized on a straight-line basis over its useful life, which is generally three years, beginning on the date the software is placed into service. Management evaluates the useful lives of these assets on an annual basis and tests for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances occur that could impact the recoverability of these assets. During the years ended December 31, 2016 , 2015 and 2014 , the Company capitalized $1.3 million , $2.3 million , and $1.2 million , respectively, of internal-use software and website development costs. Amortization of internal-use software was $1.5 million , $1.1 million , $1.3 million for the years ended December 31, 2016 , 2015 and 2014 , respectively. |
| Patent Assets, Net | Patent Assets, Net The Company generally acquires patent assets from third parties using cash. Patent assets are recorded at fair value at acquisition. The fair value of the assets acquired is generally based on the fair value of the consideration exchanged. The asset value includes the cost of external legal and other fees associated with the acquisition of the assets. Costs incurred to maintain and prosecute patents and patent applications are expensed as incurred. Because each client generally receives a license to the majority of the Company’s patent assets, the Company is unable to reliably determine the pattern over which its patent assets are consumed. As a result, the Company amortizes each patent asset on a straight-line basis. The amortization period is equal to the asset’s estimated economic useful life. Estimating the economic useful life of patent assets requires significant management judgment. The Company considers various factors in estimating the economic useful lives of its patent assets, including the remaining statutory life of the underlying patents, the applicability of the assets to future clients, the vesting period for current clients to obtain perpetual licenses to such patent assets, any contractual commitments by clients that are related to such patent assets, its estimate of the period of time during which the Company may sign subscription agreements with prospective clients that may find relevance in the patent assets, and the remaining contractual term of the Company’s existing clients at the time of acquisition. In certain instances, where the Company acquires patent assets and secures related client committed cash flows that extend beyond the statutory life of the underlying patent assets, the useful life may extend beyond the statutory life of the patent assets. As of December 31, 2016 , the estimated economic useful life of the Company’s patent assets generally ranged from 24 to 60 months . The weighted-average estimated economic useful life of patent assets acquired since inception was 41 months . The weighted-average estimated economic useful life of patent assets acquired during the year ended December 31, 2016 was 27 months . The Company periodically evaluates whether events and circumstances have occurred that may warrant a revision to the remaining estimated useful life of its patent assets. In some instances, the Company accepts a payment from a client to finance part or all of an acquisition involving patent assets that may cost more than the Company is prepared to spend with its own capital resources or that are relevant only to a small number of clients. In these instances, the Company facilitates syndicated transactions that include cash contributions from participating clients in addition to their annual subscription fees. In instances where the Company sells patent assets, the amount of consideration received is compared to the asset’s carrying value to determine and recognize a gain or loss |
| Impairment of Long-Lived Assets | Impairment of Long-Lived Assets The Company assesses the recoverability of its long-lived assets, which includes patent assets, other intangible assets and property and equipment, when events or changes in circumstances indicate their carrying value may not be recoverable. Such events or changes in circumstances may include: a significant adverse change in the extent or manner in which a long-lived asset is being used, a significant adverse change in legal factors or in the business climate that could affect the value of a long-lived asset, an accumulation of costs significantly in excess of the amount originally expected for the acquisition or development of a long-lived asset, current or future operating or cash flow losses that demonstrate continuing losses associated with the use of a long-lived asset or a current expectation that, more-likely-than-not, a long-lived asset will be sold or otherwise disposed of significantly before the end of its previously estimated useful life. The Company licenses a majority of the portfolio of patent assets to all of its membership clients and thus views these assets as a single asset group. The Company assesses recoverability of a long-lived asset by determining whether the carrying value of these assets can be recovered through projected undiscounted cash flows. If the carrying value of the assets exceeds the forecasted undiscounted cash flows, an impairment loss is recognized, and is recorded as the amount by which the carrying value exceeds the estimated fair value. An impairment loss is charged to operations in the period in which management determines such impairment. To date, there have been no impairments of long-lived assets identified. |
| Goodwill | Goodwill The Company reviews goodwill for impairment annually or more frequently if events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value of goodwill may not be recoverable. For the year ended December 31, 2016 , the Company used both the qualitative assessment and the two-step goodwill impairment test to assess whether or not the goodwill of its reporting units was impaired under ASC Topic 350, Intangibles - Goodwill & Other (“ASC Topic 350”), issued by the FASB. A company may first assess the qualitative factors to determine whether it is more likely than not that the fair value of its reporting unit is less than its carrying amount as a basis for determining whether it is necessary to perform the two-step goodwill impairment. If the two-step goodwill impairment test is performed, the first step in identifying a potential impairment compares the fair value of the reporting unit with its carrying amount. Such valuations require management to make significant estimates and assumptions, especially with respect to intangible assets. Significant estimates in valuing certain intangible assets include, but are not limited to, future expected cash flows from acquired clients, acquired technology, and trade names from a market participant perspective, useful lives, and discount rates. If the carrying amount of a reporting unit exceeds its fair value, the second step would need to be performed; otherwise, no further step is required. The second step, measuring the impairment loss, compares the implied fair value of the reporting unit’s goodwill with the carrying amount of that goodwill. Any excess of the goodwill carrying amount over the implied fair value is recognized as an impairment charge, and the carrying value of goodwill is written down to fair value |
| Intangible Assets, Net | Intangible Assets, Net Intangible assets, net primarily consists of intangible assets acquired through business combinations. Such assets are capitalized and amortized on a straight-line basis over their estimated useful lives. Intangible assets, net excludes patent related intangible assets, which are recorded within patent assets, net in the consolidated balance sheets. |
| Advertising Costs | Advertising Costs The Company expenses advertising costs as they are incurred. Advertising expenses were not material for any of the periods presented |
| Foreign Currency Accounting | Foreign Currency Accounting |
| Income Taxes | Income Taxes The Company accounts for income taxes using an asset and liability approach, which requires the recognition of deferred tax assets or liabilities for the tax-effected temporary differences between the financial reporting and tax bases of its assets and liabilities and for net operating loss and tax credit carryforwards. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The measurement of deferred tax assets is reduced, if necessary, by the amount of any tax benefits that, based on available evidence, are not expected to be realized. The Company assesses the likelihood that its deferred tax assets will be recovered from future taxable income, and to the extent the Company believes that recovery is not likely, the Company establishes a valuation allowance. Judgment is required in determining the Company’s provision for income taxes, deferred tax assets and liabilities, and any valuation allowance recorded against the net deferred tax assets. The Company applied a valuation allowance of $0.9 million and $1.1 million against its deferred tax balances at December 31, 2016 and 2015 , respectively. The calculation of the Company’s tax liabilities involves uncertainties in the application of complex tax laws and regulations in a multitude of jurisdictions across its global operations. ASC 740, Income Taxes (“ASC 740”) provides that a tax benefit from an uncertain tax position may be recognized when it is more-likely-than-not that the position will be sustained upon examination, including resolutions of any related appeals or litigation processes, on the basis of the technical merits. ASC 740 also provides guidance on measurement, derecognition, classification, interest and penalties, accounting in interim periods, disclosure and transition. The Company recognizes tax liabilities in accordance with ASC 740 and adjusts these liabilities when its judgment changes as a result of the evaluation of new information not previously available. Because of the complexity of some of these uncertainties, the ultimate resolution may result in a payment that is materially different from its current estimate of the tax liabilities. These differences will be reflected as increases or decreases to income tax expense in the period in which new information is available. The tax expense or benefit for extraordinary items, unusual or infrequently occurring items and items that do not represent a tax effect of current-year ordinary income are treated as discrete items and recorded in the interim period in which the events occur. |
| Stock-Based Compensation | Stock-Based Compensation The Company accounts for stock-based compensation for equity-settled awards issued to employees and directors under ASC 718, Compensation-Stock Compensation (“ASC 718”). ASC 718 requires that stock-based compensation expense for equity-settled awards made to employees and directors be measured based on the estimated grant date fair value and recognized over the requisite service period. These equity-settled awards include stock options, restricted stock units (“RSUs”) and performance-based RSUs which include a service condition, some of which also include a market condition or performance condition (“PBRSUs”). The fair value of stock options is estimated as of the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model. The fair value of RSUs is estimated based on the fair market value of the Company’s common stock on the date of grant. For stock options and RSUs, the fair value of award that is expected to vest is recognized as compensation expense on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period. Because stock-based compensation expense is based on awards ultimately expected to vest, it reflects estimated forfeitures. Forfeitures are estimated at the time of grant and revised, if necessary, in subsequent periods if actual forfeitures differ from initial estimates. Previously recognized expense is reversed for the portion of awards forfeited prior to vesting. The fair value of PBRSUs that include performance conditions is estimated by reference to the fair value of the underlying shares on the date of grant. The fair value of PBRSUs that include market conditions is estimated as of the date of grant using the Monte-Carlo simulation model. Stock-based compensation expense for PBRSUs is recognized over the derived service period for each tranche (or market or performance condition). Because the Company’s PBRSUs have multiple derived service periods, it uses the graded-vesting attribution method. The graded vesting attribution method requires a company to recognize compensation expense over the requisite service period for each vesting tranche of the award as though the award were, in substance, multiple awards. The compensation expense for PBRSUs with market conditions will only be reversible if the employee terminates prior to completing the requisite service periods for these awards (i.e., compensation expense will not be reversed if the market condition is not met). For PBRSUs that include performance conditions, the Company only recognizes compensation expense for those awards which vesting is determined to be probable upon satisfaction of certain performance criteria. Estimates of the fair value of equity-settled awards as of the grant date using valuation models, such as the Black-Scholes option-pricing model and a Monte-Carlo simulation model, are affected by assumptions regarding a number of complex variables. Changes in the assumptions can materially affect the fair value and ultimately how much stock-based compensation expense is recognized. These inputs are subjective and generally require significant analysis and judgment to develop. For all stock options granted to date, the Company calculated the expected term using the SEC simplified method. The Company had limited information on its past volatility and had a limited operating history. Therefore, it had estimated the volatility data based on a study of publicly traded industry peer companies. For purposes of identifying these peer companies, the Company considered the industry, stage of development, size and financial leverage of potential comparable companies. As of the second quarter of 2014, the Company concluded that it had obtained sufficient historical information and, accordingly, ceased use of calculating the expected term using the SEC simplified method and estimated volatility based on peer companies. Starting the third quarter of 2014, the Company's expected term calculation is based on historical exercise patterns and post-vesting termination behavior. Volatility is calculated based on the implied volatility of the Company's publicly traded stock. The Company has not granted any stock options since making these changes. The risk-free interest rate is based on the yield available on U.S. Treasury zero-coupon issues similar in duration to the expected term of the equity-settled award. |
| Business Combinations | Business Combinations The Company applies the provisions of ASC 805, Business Combinations (“ASC 805”), in the accounting for its business acquisitions. ASC 805 requires companies to recognize goodwill separately from the assets acquired and liabilities assumed, which are valued at their acquisition date fair values. Goodwill as of the acquisition date represents the excess of the purchase price over the fair values of the assets acquired and the liabilities assumed. The Company uses significant estimates and assumptions, including fair value estimates, to determine fair value of assets acquired, liabilities assumed and, when applicable, the related useful lives of the acquired assets, as of the business combination date. When those estimates are provisional, the Company refines them as necessary during the measurement period. The measurement period is the period after the acquisition date, not to exceed one year, in which the Company may gather new information about facts and circumstances that existed as of the acquisition date to adjust the provisional amounts recognized. Measurement period adjustments are applied retrospectively. All other adjustments are recorded in the consolidated statements of operations. |
| Reserves for Known and Incurred but not Reported Claims | Reserves for Known and Incurred but not Reported Claims Reserves for known and incurred but not reported claims represent estimated claims costs and related expenses for patent infringement liability insurance policies in effect. Reserves for known claims are established based on individual case estimates. The Company uses actuarial models and techniques to estimate the reserve for incurred but not reported claims. Loss expense for known and incurred but not reported claims are charged to earnings after deducting recoverable amounts under our reinsurance contract. Loss expense for known and incurred but not reported claims associated with policies that the Company issued on behalf of a Lloyd's of London underwriting syndicate are charged to earnings for the portion of the underwriting risk that the Company assumes. |
| Recently Adopted Accounting Standards | Recent Accounting Pronouncements In November 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued Accounting Standards Update ("ASU") 2016-18, Statement of Cash Flows: Restricted Cash ("ASU 2016-18"). The standard addresses the diversity in practice that exists in the classification and presentation of changes in restricted cash and requires that a statement of cash flows explain the change during the period in the total of cash, cash equivalents, and amounts generally described as restricted cash or restricted cash equivalents. ASU 2016-18 is effective retrospectively for fiscal years and interim periods within those years beginning after December 15, 2017. The Company does not expect the adoption of this guidance to have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements. In October 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-16, Income Taxes: Intra-Entity Transfers of Assets Other than Inventory which removes the prohibition against the recognition of current and deferred income tax effects of intra-entity transfers of assets other than inventory until the asset has been sold to an outside party. This ASU is effective for fiscal years and interim periods within those years beginning after December 15, 2017. The Company does not expect the adoption of this guidance to have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements. In August 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-15 Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230): Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments ("ASU 2016-15"). The standard is intended to eliminate diversity in practice in how certain cash receipts and cash payments are presented and classified in the statement of cash flows. ASU 2016-15 will be effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017. Early adoption is permitted for all entities. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of this guidance on its consolidated financial statements. In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-13, Financial Instruments -- Credit Losses ("ASU 2016-13") on measurement of credit losses on financial instruments. This ASU requires financial assets measured at amortized cost to be presented at the net amount expected to be collected and available-for-sale debt securities to record credit losses through an allowance for credit losses. ASU 2016-13 will be effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2019. Early adoption is permitted as early as of the fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of this guidance on its consolidated financial statements. In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-09, Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting ("ASU 2016-09"). This ASU affects entities that issue share-based payment awards to their employees. ASU 2016-09 is designed to simplify several aspects of accounting for share-based payment award transactions that include the income tax consequences, classification of awards as either equity or liabilities, classification on the statement of cash flows, and forfeiture rate calculations. ASU 2016-09 will become effective for annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2016 and early adoption is permitted in any interim or annual period. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of this guidance on its consolidated financial statements. In February 2016 the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842) (“ASU 2016-02”), which requires lessees to put most leases on their balance sheets but recognize the expenses on their income statements in a manner similar to current practice. ASU 2016-02 states that a lessee would recognize a lease liability for the obligation to make lease payments and a right-to-use asset for the right to use the underlying asset for the lease term. The new standard is effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2018 and early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of this guidance on its consolidated financial statements. In January 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-01, Financial Instruments - Overall (Subtopic 825-10) - Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities ("ASU 2016-01"), which amends guidance related to certain aspects of the recognition, measurement, presentation, and disclosure of financial instruments. This update is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, and interim periods in those years. Early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of this guidance on its consolidated financial statements. In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606) (“ASU 2014-09”), which will supersede most existing revenue recognition guidance in U.S. GAAP once it becomes effective. ASU 2014-09 requires an entity to recognize revenue when promised goods or services are transferred to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration that is expected to be received for those goods or services. ASU 2014-09 defines a five-step process to achieve this core principle and, in doing so, it is possible more judgment and estimates may be required within the revenue recognition process than are required under existing U.S. GAAP including identifying performance obligations in the contract, estimating the amount of variable consideration to include in the transaction price and allocating the transaction price to each separate performance obligation. Entities have the option of using either a full retrospective or modified retrospective approach to adopt the new standards. In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-08, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606): Principal versus Agent Considerations (Reporting Revenue Gross versus Net) , which clarifies the implementation guidance for gross versus net considerations in ASU 2014-09. In April 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-10, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606): Identifying Performance Obligations and Licensing , which amends the guidance in ASU 2014-09 related to identifying performance obligations and accounting for licenses of intellectual property. In May 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-12, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606): Narrow-Scope Improvements and Practical Expedients , which provides clarification on assessing the collectability criterion, presentation of sales taxes, measurement date for noncash consideration, and completed contracts at transition. In December 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-20, Technical Corrections and Improvements to Topic 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers , which provides various technical corrections and clarifications to ASU 2014-09. All of these aforementioned ASUs will be effective for annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2017 and early adoption is permitted for annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2016. The Company expects to complete its assessment process, including identifying its performance obligations and selecting a transition method for adoption, by the end of the second quarter of 2017 along with its implementation process prior to the adoption of this ASU on January 1, 2018. |
