Consolidated Statements of Operations - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Income Statement [Abstract]
Revenues	$ 125,037	$ 130,876	$ 130,556
Cost of revenues:
Inventor royalties	18,462	20,670	29,724
Contingent legal fees	16,169	23,563	24,784
Litigation and licensing expenses - patents	39,373	37,614	39,335
Amortization of patents	53,067	53,745	49,039
Marketing, general and administrative expenses (including non-cash stock compensation expense of $11,048 in 2015, $18,115 in 2014 and $27,894 in 2013)	38,176	48,554	59,229
Research, consulting and other expenses - business development	3,391	3,840	3,251
Impairment of Patent-Related Intangible Assets	74,731	3,497	4,619
Impairment of Goodwill	30,149	0	0
Other	4,141	1,548	3,506
Total operating costs and expenses	277,659	193,031	213,487
Operating loss	(152,622)	(62,155)	(82,931)
Total other income (expense)	(56)	(595)	2,131
Loss from operations before (provision for) benefit from income taxes	(152,678)	(62,750)	(80,800)
(Provision for) benefit from income taxes	(4,800)	(3,912)	21,958
Net loss including noncontrolling interests in operating subsidiaries	(157,478)	(66,662)	(58,842)
Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests in operating subsidiaries	(2,558)	633	2,408
Net loss attributable to Acacia Research Corporation	(160,036)	(66,029)	(56,434)
Net Loss Available to Common Stockholders, Basic and Diluted	$ (160,730)	$ (66,755)	$ (56,945)
Earnings Per Share, Basic and Diluted	$ (3.25)	$ (1.37)	$ (1.18)
Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding, Basic and Diluted	49,505,817	48,658,088	48,155,832
Common Stock, Dividends, Per Share, Cash Paid	$ 0.500	$ 0.500	$ 0.375