Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2013
Revenues	$ 50,076	$ 23,110	$ 62,654	$ 99,971
Cost of revenues:
Inventor royalties	10,694	5,610	11,645	24,091
Contingent legal fees	7,077	4,024	8,604	19,056
Litigation and licensing expenses - patents	10,820	9,918	19,814	19,566
Amortization of patents	15,532	12,578	30,004	24,308
Marketing, general and administrative expenses (including non-cash stock compensation expense of $5,303 and $10,068 for the three and six months ended June 30, 2014, respectively, and $6,268 and $11,426 for the three and six months ended June 30, 2013, respectively)	13,181	13,184	24,874	27,035
Research, consulting and other expenses - business development	1,003	726	1,995	1,750
Total operating costs and expenses	58,307	46,040	96,936	115,806
Operating loss	(8,231)	(22,930)	(34,282)	(15,835)
Interest income	369	397	925	839
Net realized gain (loss) on investments	(565)	3	(1,012)	851
Total other income (expense)	(196)	400	(87)	1,690
Loss before (provision for) benefit from income taxes	(8,427)	(22,530)	(34,369)	(14,145)
(Provision for) benefit from income taxes	(4,689)	9,050	(3,317)	5,778
Net loss including noncontrolling interests in operating subsidiaries	(13,116)	(13,480)	(37,686)	(8,367)
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests in operating subsidiaries	167	977	316	977
Net loss attributable to Acacia Research Corporation	(12,949)	(12,503)	(37,370)	(7,390)
Net loss available to common stockholders, basic	(13,154)	(12,638)	(37,781)	(7,525)
Net loss available to common stockholders, diluted	$ (13,154)	$ (12,638)	$ (37,781)	$ (7,525)
Basic loss per common share	$ (0.27)	$ (0.26)	$ (0.78)	$ (0.16)
Diluted loss per common share	$ (0.27)	$ (0.26)	$ (0.78)	$ (0.16)
Weighted average number of shares outstanding, basic	48,543,334	48,008,998	48,436,946	47,934,810
Weighted average number of shares outstanding, diluted	48,543,334	48,008,998	48,436,946	47,934,810
Common Stock, Dividends, Per Share, Cash Paid	$ 0.125	$ 0.125	$ 0.250	$ 0.125