Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations - USD ($)	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2014
Revenues	$ 40,336,000	$ 50,076,000	$ 74,546,000	$ 62,654,000
Operating costs and expenses
Inventor royalties	1,265,000	10,694,000	10,590,000	11,645,000
Contingent legal fees	5,512,000	7,077,000	10,296,000	8,604,000
Litigation and licensing expenses - patents	9,012,000	10,820,000	17,687,000	19,814,000
Amortization of patents	13,228,000	15,532,000	26,266,000	30,004,000
Marketing, general and administrative expenses (including non-cash stock compensation expense of $3,177 and $6,424 for the three and six months ended June 30, 2015, respectively, and $5,303 and $10,068 for the three and six months ended June 30, 2014, respectively)	9,587,000	13,181,000	20,162,000	24,874,000
Research, consulting and other expenses - business development	732,000	1,003,000	1,729,000	1,995,000
Other expenses	0	0	426,000	0
Total operating costs and expenses	39,336,000	58,307,000	87,156,000	96,936,000
Operating income (loss)	1,000,000	(8,231,000)	(12,610,000)	(34,282,000)
Total interest and other investment income (expense)	(104,000)	(196,000)	124,000	(87,000)
Income (loss) before provision for income taxes	896,000	(8,427,000)	(12,486,000)	(34,369,000)
Provision for income taxes	(119,000)	(4,689,000)	(289,000)	(3,317,000)
Net income (loss) including noncontrolling interests in operating subsidiaries	777,000	(13,116,000)	(12,775,000)	(37,686,000)
Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests in operating subsidiaries	(4,463,000)	167,000	(4,041,000)	316,000
Net loss attributable to Acacia Research Corporation	(3,686,000)	(12,949,000)	(16,816,000)	(37,370,000)
Net loss available to common stockholders, basic	(3,896,000)	(13,154,000)	(17,241,000)	(37,781,000)
Net loss available to common stockholders, diluted	$ (3,896,000)	$ (13,154,000)	$ (17,241,000)	$ (37,781,000)
Basic loss per common share	$ (0.08)	$ (0.27)	$ (0.35)	$ (0.78)
Diluted loss per common share	$ (0.08)	$ (0.27)	$ (0.35)	$ (0.78)
Weighted average number of shares outstanding, basic	49,423,472	48,543,334	49,318,423	48,436,946
Weighted average number of shares outstanding, diluted	49,423,472	48,543,334	49,318,423	48,436,946
Common Stock, Dividends, Per Share, Cash Paid	$ 0.125	$ 0.125	$ 0.250	$ 0.250