Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations (USD $)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014
Revenues	$ 34,210,000	$ 12,578,000
Cost of revenues:
Inventor royalties	9,325,000	951,000
Contingent legal fees	4,784,000	1,527,000
Litigation and licensing expenses - patents	8,675,000	8,994,000
Amortization of patents	13,038,000	14,472,000
Marketing, general and administrative expenses (including non-cash stock compensation expense of $3,247 for the three months ended March 31, 2015, and $4,765 for the three months ended March 31, 2014)	10,575,000	11,693,000
Research, consulting and other expenses - business development	997,000	992,000
Other expenses	426,000	0
Total operating costs and expenses	47,820,000	38,629,000
Operating loss	(13,610,000)	(26,051,000)
Total interest and other investment income	228,000	109,000
Loss before (provision for) benefit from income taxes	(13,382,000)	(25,942,000)
(Provision for) benefit from income taxes	(170,000)	1,372,000
Net loss including noncontrolling interests in operating subsidiaries	(13,552,000)	(24,570,000)
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests in operating subsidiaries	422,000	149,000
Net loss attributable to Acacia Research Corporation	(13,130,000)	(24,421,000)
Net loss available to common stockholders, basic	(13,345,000)	(24,628,000)
Net loss available to common stockholders, diluted	$ (13,345,000)	$ (24,628,000)
Basic loss per common share	$ (0.27)	$ (0.51)
Diluted loss per common share	$ (0.27)	$ (0.51)
Weighted average number of shares outstanding, basic	49,212,207	48,329,375
Weighted average number of shares outstanding, diluted	49,212,207	48,329,375
Common Stock, Dividends, Per Share, Cash Paid	$ 0.125	$ 0.125