Accounts Receivable, Net, Current Accounts receivable, net of allowances of $230 million and $268 million at September 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008, respectively Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax Accumulated other comprehensive loss Payments to Acquire Businesses, Net of Cash Acquired Cash acquired through the business combination, net of cash payments to effect acquisitions Additional Paid in Capital, Common Stock Additional paid-in capital Acquisitions Cash and Cash Equivalents, at Carrying Value Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period Cash and cash equivalents at end of period Cash and cash equivalents Increase (Decrease) in Accounts Receivable Accounts receivable Increase (Decrease) in Inventories Inventories Changes in operating assets and liabilities: Increase (Decrease) in Accounts Payable Accounts payable Increase (Decrease) in Accrued Liabilities Accrued expenses and other liabilities Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Text Block] Commitments and contingencies Common Stock, Shares Authorized Common stock, shares authorized Common Stock, Value, Issued Common stock, $.000001 par value per share, 2,400,000,000 shares authorized, 1,356,273,202 and 1,325,206,032 shares issued at September 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008, respectively Comprehensive Income Note [Text Block] Comprehensive income (loss) and accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) Current liabilities: Liabilities, Current Total current liabilities Intangible Assets, Current Intangible assets, net Deferred Income Tax Expense (Benefit) Deferred income taxes Deferred Revenue, Current Deferred revenues Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization, Nonproduction Depreciation and amortization Earnings Per Share, Diluted Earnings (loss) per common share, diluted (in dollars per share) Effect of Exchange Rate on Cash and Cash Equivalents Effect of foreign exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents Share-based Compensation Stock-based compensation expense (2) General and Administrative Expense General and administrative Income Tax Disclosure [Text Block] Income taxes Increase (Decrease) in Other Operating Assets Other assets Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Net Intangible assets, net Inventory, Net Inventories Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity Total liabilities and shareholders' equity Liabilities Total liabilities Marketable Securities, Current Short-term investments Cash flows from financing activities: Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities Cash flows from investing activities: Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Investing Activities Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities Cash flows from operating activities: Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities Net cash provided by operating activities Cash and Cash Equivalents, Period Increase (Decrease) Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents Proceeds from Stock Plans Proceeds from issuance of common stock to employees Investment Income, Nonoperating Operating income (loss) Operating Income (Loss) Operating income (loss) Net revenues Revenues Total net revenues Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements Disclosure [Text Block] Background and basis of presentation Other Comprehensive Income, Foreign Currency Transaction and Translation Adjustment, Net of Tax Foreign currency translation adjustment Other Assets, Current Other current assets Proceeds from Maturities, Prepayments and Calls of Available-for-sale Securities Proceeds from maturities of investments Proceeds from Sale of Short-term Investments Proceeds from sale of investments Property, Plant and Equipment, Net Property and equipment, net Payments to Acquire Property, Plant, and Equipment Capital expenditures Related Party Transactions Disclosure [Text Block] Related party transactions Payments for Repurchase of Common Stock Repurchase of common stock Restructuring Charges Restructuring Retained Earnings (Accumulated Deficit) Accumulated deficit Sales Revenue, Goods, Net Product sales Inventory Disclosure [Text Block] Inventories Schedule of Goodwill [Text Block] Goodwill Segment Reporting Disclosure [Text Block] Operating segments, geographic regions, and platforms Selling and Marketing Expense Sales and marketing Significant Accounting Policies [Text Block] Summary of significant accounting policies Current assets: Assets, Current Total current assets Treasury Stock Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Securities Unrealized gain on auction rate securities classified as trading securities Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding, Diluted Diluted (in shares) Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding, Basic Basic (in shares) Common Stock Research and Development Expense Product development Available-for-sale Securities, Debt Securities, Noncurrent Long-term investments Assets Total assets Intangible Assets Disclosure [Text Block] Intangible assets, net Other Liabilities, Noncurrent Other liabilities Deferred income taxes Disclosure of Compensation Related Costs, Share-based Payments [Text Block] Stock-based compensation Deferred Tax Assets, Net, Current Deferred income taxes, net Deferred Tax Liabilities, Noncurrent Deferred income taxes, net Assets [Abstract] Assets Fair Value, Measurement Inputs, Disclosure [Text Block] Fair value measurements Treasury Stock, Value Less: Treasury stock, at cost, 88,802,250 and 12,967,265 shares at September 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008, respectively Earnings Per Share, Basic Earnings (loss) per common share, basic (in dollars per share) Excess Tax Benefit from Share-based Compensation, Financing Activities Excess tax benefits from stock option exercises Excess Tax Benefit from Share-based Compensation, Operating Activities Excess tax benefits from stock option exercises Schedule of Treasury Stock by Class [Text Block] Capital transactions Common Stock, Shares, Issued Common stock, shares issued Increase (Decrease) in Deferred Revenue Deferred revenues Other Assets, Noncurrent Other assets Earnings per common share, basic and diluted Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations before Equity Method Investments, Income Taxes, Extraordinary Items, Cumulative Effects of Changes in Accounting Principles, Noncontrolling Interest Income (loss) before income tax expense (benefit) Common Stock, Par or Stated Value Per Share Common stock, par value per share (in dollars per share) Treasury Stock, Shares Treasury stock, shares Income (loss) before income tax provision (benefit) Income (loss) before income tax provision (benefit) Income Tax Expense (Benefit) Income tax expense (benefit) Additional Paid-In Capital Accumulated Deficit Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss Stock Issued During Period, Value, Share-based Compensation Issuance of common stock pursuant to employee stock options and restricted stock rights Tender offer (see Note 1) Stock Issued During Period, Shares, Share-based Compensation Issuance of common stock pursuant to employee stock options and restricted stock rights (in shares) Treasury Stock, Shares, Acquired Shares repurchased (in shares) Costs and expenses Costs and Expenses Total costs and expenses Treasury Stock, Value, Acquired, Cost Method Shares repurchased Adjustments to Additional Paid in Capital, Tax Effect from Share-based Compensation Tax shortfall from employee stock option exercises Shares, Issued Balance (in shares) Balance (in shares) Earnings Per Share [Text Block] Computation of earnings (loss) per common share Net Income (Loss), Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest Net income (loss) Net income (loss) Net income Weighted-average shares outstanding Shareholders' equity: Stockholders' Equity, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest Total shareholders' equity Balance Balance Accounts Payable, Current Accounts payable Accrued Liabilities, Current Accrued expenses and other liabilities Commitments and Contingencies Commitments and contingencies (Note 16) Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities: Adjustments to Additional Paid in Capital, Share-based Compensation, Requisite Service Period Recognition, Value Stock-based compensation expense related to employee stock options and restricted stock rights Net income (loss) Net income (loss) Subscription Licensing and Other Revenues Revenues associated with the sale of subscriptions via packaged software and prepaid subscription card payments by licensees, and other ancillary revenues recognized ratably over the subscription or licensing period. Subscription, licensing, and other revenues Cost of Sales, Product Costs Total costs related to goods produced and sold during the reporting period, excluding costs related to software royalties and amortization; intellectual licences; and massively multi-player online role-playing games. Cost of sales - product costs Cost of Sales, Software Royalties and Amortization Cost of sales - software royalties and amortization The amount of expense recognized in the current period that reflects the allocation of the costs of software development over the expected benefit period of such assets. Cost of Sales, Intellectual Property Licenses The amount of expense recognized in the current period that reflects the allocation of the costs of intellectual property licenses over the expected benefit period of such assets. Cost of sales - intellectual property licenses Cost of Sales, Massively, Multiplayer, Online Game Costs incurred and are directly related to generating revenues in fulfilling customer subscriptions to massively multi-player online role-playing games. Cost of sales - massively multi-player online role-playing game ("MMORPG") Software Development, Current Capitalization of certain software development costs incurred after technological feasibility of the software is established. Software development Intellectual Property Licenses, Current Intellectual property license costs represent license fees paid to intellectual property rights holders for use of their trademarks, copyrights, software, technology, music, or other intellectual property or proprietary rights. Intellectual property licenses Software Development, Noncurrent Capitalization of certain software development costs incurred after technological feasibility of the software is established. Software development Intellectual Property Licenses, Noncurrent Intellectual property license costs represent license fees paid to intellectual property rights holders for use of their trademarks, copyrights, software, technology, music, or other intellectual property or proprietary rights. Intellectual property licenses Amortization and Write-Offs of Capitalized Software Development Costs and Intellectual Property Licenses Amortization And Write-Offs Of Capitalized Software Development Costs And Intellectual Property Licenses Amortization and write-off of capitalized software development costs and intellectual property licenses (1) Increase (Decrease) in Software Development and Intellectual Property Licenses (Increase) Decrease in Software Development And Intellectual Property Licenses Software development and intellectual property licenses Payments for Net Cash Transfers to Affiliated Companies Net cash transfers to parent and affiliated companies Net cash transfers to Vivendi and affiliated companies Document and Entity Information Software Development Costs and Intellectual Property Licenses [Text block] Includes disclosure of software development costs and intellectual property license costs. This element may be used as a single block of text to encapsulate the entire disclosure including data and tables. Software development costs and intellectual property licenses Notes To Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements Investment Income, Net [Text Block] This item represents the aggregate amount of income from investments not considered a component of the entity's core operations. Investment and other income, net Unrealized loss on put option from UBS Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Put Option Unrealized gains or losses related to a put option that does not meet the definition of a derivative instrument. Restructuring Restructuring [Text Block] Description of restructuring activities including exit and disposal activities, which should include facts and circumstances leading to the plan, the expected plan completion date, the major types of costs associated with the plan activities, total expected costs, the accrual balance at the end of the period, and the periods over which the remaining accrual will be settled. Goodwill Goodwill Stock Issued During Period, Value, Acquisitions Issuance of contingent consideration Comprehensive Income, Net of Tax, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest Total comprehensive income Components of comprehensive income: CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS Statement of Stockholders' Equity [Abstract] Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity Statement Table Statement Line Items CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY Statement, Equity Components [Axis] Equity Component [Domain] Increase (Decrease) in Restricted Cash Increase in restricted cash Investments Excluding Investment Income Disclosure [Text Block] Investments This disclosure includes information about available-for-Sale Investments and trading Investments excluding investment income disclosure. Tax Benefit from Stock Options Exercised Tax (shortfall) benefit from employee stock option exercises Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets (Excluding Goodwill) Trademark and trade names Accounts receivable, allowances (in dollars) Accounts Receivable, Allowance A provision for trade and other receivables due to an Entity within one year (or the normal operating cycle, whichever is longer) that are expected to be uncollectible, an estimate for product returns, and an estimate for price protection. Asset Impairment Charges Impairment charges Proceeds from Issuance of Common Stock Issuance of additional common stock related to the business combination Payments to Acquire Short-term Investments Purchase of short-term investments Stock Issued During Period, Shares, Acquisitions Issuance of contingent consideration (in shares) Adjustments to Additional Paid in Capital, Adjustment to Prior Return of Capital Return of capital to Vivendi related to settlement of pre-Business Combination taxes This element represents the difference between the amount of taxes paid based on the method of allocation (i.e. a stand-alone taxpayer) and the actual amount of taxes due (and settled) based on the filing of tax returns and is accounted for as a return of capital. Payments of Distributions to Affiliates Return of capital to Vivendi Stockholders' Equity, Period Increase (Decrease) Stock Issued During Period, Shares, Period Increase (Decrease) Payments for Repurchase of Other Equity Repurchase of stock through tender offer Investment Income And Other Net Investment and other income, net The aggregate amount of income from investments (for example, dividends) not considered a component of the entity's core operations and the sum of all other revenue and income recognized by the entity in the period not otherwise specified in the income statement. Comprehensive income Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements Disclosure [Text Block] Recently issued accounting pronouncements For a new accounting pronouncement that has been issued but not yet adopted, an entity's disclosure should (1) describe the new pronouncement, the date that adoption is required and the date that the entity plans to adopt, if earlier; (2) discuss the methods of adoption allowed by the pronouncement and the method expected to be utilized by the entity, if determined; (3) discuss the impact that adoption of the pronouncement is expected to have on the financial statements of the entity, unless such impact is not known or reasonably estimable (in which case, a statement to that effect should be made) and; (4) disclose the potential impact of other significant matters that the entity believes might result from the adoption of the pronouncement (for example, technical violations of debt covenant agreements and planned or intended changes in business practices.)