Consolidated Statements of Operations (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013
Revenues	$ 12,578	$ 76,861
Cost of revenues:
Inventor royalties	951	18,481
Contingent legal fees	1,527	15,032
Litigation and licensing expenses - patents	8,994	9,648
Amortization of patents	14,472	11,730
Marketing, general and administrative expenses (including non-cash stock compensation expense of $4,765 for the three months ended March 31, 2014, and $5,158 for the three months ended March 31, 2013)	11,693	13,851
Research, consulting and other expenses - business development	992	1,024
Total operating costs and expenses	38,629	69,766
Operating income (loss)	(26,051)	7,095
Interest income	556	442
Net gain (loss) on investments	(447)	848
Total other income	109	1,290
Income (loss) before benefit from (provision for) income taxes	(25,942)	8,385
Benefit from (provision for) income taxes	1,372	(3,272)
Net income (loss) including noncontrolling interests in operating subsidiaries	(24,570)	5,113
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests in operating subsidiaries	149	0
Net income (loss) attributable to Acacia Research Corporation	(24,421)	5,113
Net income (loss) available to common stockholders, basic	(24,628)	4,973
Net income (loss) available to common stockholders, diluted	$ (24,628)	$ 4,974
Basic income (loss) per common share	$ (0.51)	$ 0.10
Diluted income (loss) per common share	$ (0.51)	$ 0.10
Weighted average number of shares outstanding, basic	48,329,375	47,859,774
Weighted average number of shares outstanding, diluted	48,329,375	48,104,242
Common Stock, Dividends, Per Share, Cash Paid	$ 0.125	$ 0.000