Consolidated Balance Sheets (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Current assets:
Cash and Cash Equivalents	$ 314,733,000	$ 102,515,000
Short-term Investments	6,597,000	0
Accounts receivable	2,915,000	7,987,000
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	803,000	1,679,000
Total current assets	325,048,000	112,181,000
Property and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation and amortization	220,000	135,000
Patents, net of accumulated amortization	25,188,000	19,803,000
Investments - noncurrent	1,956,000	2,001,000
Other assets	465,000	664,000
Total assets	352,877,000	134,784,000
Current Liabilities
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	6,625,000	7,099,000
Royalties and contingent legal fees payable	23,508,000	12,760,000
Total current liabilities	30,133,000	19,859,000
Other liabilities	632,000	1,072,000
Total liabilities	30,765,000	20,931,000
Commitments and contingencies (Note 12)
Stockholders' Equity
Preferred stock, par value $0.001 per share; 10,000,000 shares authorized; no shares issued or outstanding	0	0
Common stock, par value $0.001 per share; 100,000,000 shares authorized; 42,928,001 and 36,029,068 shares issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively	43,000	36,000
Additional paid-in capital	386,821,000	197,026,000
Accumulated comprehensive loss	(1,830,000)	0
Accumulated deficit	(65,085,000)	(86,191,000)
Total Acacia Research Corporation stockholders' equity	319,949,000	110,871,000
Noncontrolling interests in operating subsidiaries	2,163,000	2,982,000
Total stockholders' equity	322,112,000	113,853,000
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	$ 352,877,000	$ 134,784,000