Consolidated Statements of Operations (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2013	Mar. 31, 2012
Revenues	$ 76,861	$ 99,040
Cost of revenues:
Inventor royalties	18,481	7,594
Contingent legal fees	15,032	3,748
Litigation and licensing expenses - patents	9,648	3,381
Amortization of patents	11,730	5,126
Marketing, general and administrative expenses (including non-cash stock compensation expense of $5,158 for the three months ended March 31, 2013, and $5,090 for the three months ended March 31, 2012)	13,851	13,731
Research, consulting and other expenses - business development	1,024	1,116
Total operating costs and expenses	69,766	34,696
Operating income (loss)	7,095	64,344
Investment Income, Interest	442	56
Gain (Loss) on Investments	848	0
Total other income (expenses)	1,290	56
Income (loss) from operations before benefit from (provision for) income taxes	8,385	64,400
Benefit from (provision for) income taxes	(3,272)	(14,747)
Net income (loss) including noncontrolling interests in operating subsidiaries	5,113	49,653
Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests in operating subsidiaries	0	275
Net income (loss) attributable to Acacia Research Corporation	$ 5,113	$ 49,928
Net income (loss) per common share attributable to Acacia Research Corporation:
Basic earnings (loss) per share	$ 0.11	$ 1.13
Diluted earnings (loss) per share	$ 0.11	$ 1.09
Weighted average number of shares outstanding, basic	47,859,774	44,367,499
Weighted average number of shares outstanding, diluted	48,354,444	45,771,228