Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 54,321	$ 127,540
Restricted cash	11,515	11,512
Short-term investments	90,927	19,443
Accounts receivable	7,781	26,750
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	5,138	3,245
Total current assets	169,682	188,490
Loan receivable and accrued interest	19,749	18,616
Investment warrants and shares	2,196	1,960
Property and equipment, net	94	127
Patents, net	80,804	86,319
Other assets	336	491
Total assets	272,861	296,003
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	11,712	14,283
Royalties and contingent legal fees payable	3,078	13,908
Total current liabilities	14,790	28,191
Other liabilities	380	369
Total liabilities	15,170	28,560
Commitments and contingencies (Note 6)
Stockholders' equity:
Preferred stock, par value $0.001 per share; 10,000,000 shares authorized; no shares issued or outstanding	0	0
Common stock, par value $0.001 per share; 100,000,000 shares authorized; 50,533,407 and 50,476,042 shares issued and outstanding as of March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively	51	50
Treasury stock, at cost, 1,729,408 shares as of March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016	(34,640)	(34,640)
Additional paid-in capital	644,794	642,453
Accumulated comprehensive loss	(49)	(76)
Accumulated deficit	(354,028)	(342,198)
Total Acacia Research Corporation stockholders' equity	256,128	265,589
Noncontrolling interests in operating subsidiaries	1,563	1,854
Total stockholders' equity	257,691	267,443
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	$ 272,861	$ 296,003