Consolidated Statements of Operations - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Income Statement [Abstract]
Revenues	$ 152,699	$ 125,037	$ 130,876
Cost of revenues:
Inventor royalties	22,730	18,462	20,670
Contingent legal fees	26,474	16,169	23,563
Litigation and licensing expenses - patents	27,858	39,373	37,614
Amortization of patents	34,208	53,067	53,745
General and administrative expenses (including non-cash stock compensation expense of $9,062 in 2016, $11,048 in 2015 and $18,115 in 2014)	32,919	38,176	48,554
Research, consulting and other expenses - business development	3,079	3,391	3,840
Impairment of Patent-Related Intangible Assets	42,340	74,731	3,497
Impairment of Goodwill	0	30,149	0
Other	500	4,141	1,548
Total operating costs and expenses	190,108	277,659	193,031
Operating loss	(37,409)	(152,622)	(62,155)
Total other income (expense)	798	(56)	(595)
Loss from operations before provision for income taxes	(36,611)	(152,678)	(62,750)
Provision for income taxes	(18,188)	(4,800)	(3,912)
Net loss including noncontrolling interests in operating subsidiaries	(54,799)	(157,478)	(66,662)
Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests in operating subsidiaries	732	(2,558)	633
Net loss attributable to Acacia Research Corporation	(54,067)	(160,036)	(66,029)
Net Loss Available to Common Stockholders, Basic and Diluted	$ (54,067)	$ (160,730)	$ (66,755)
Earnings Per Share, Basic and Diluted	$ (1.08)	$ (3.25)	$ (1.37)
Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding, Basic and Diluted	50,075,847	49,505,817	48,658,088
Common Stock, Dividends, Per Share, Cash Paid	$ 0.000	$ 0.500	$ 0.500