Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations - USD ($)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2017	Mar. 31, 2016
Revenues	$ 8,854,000	$ 24,721,000
Operating costs and expenses
Inventor royalties	666,000	1,573,000
Contingent legal fees	627,000	4,109,000
Litigation and licensing expenses - patents	6,386,000	7,723,000
Amortization of patents	5,515,000	10,760,000
General and administrative expenses (including non-cash stock compensation expense of $2,128 for the three months ended March 31, 2017 and $1,735 for the three months ended March 31, 2016)	6,916,000	7,994,000
Research, consulting and other expenses - business development	320,000	522,000
Other expenses	0	1,742,000
Total operating costs and expenses	20,430,000	34,423,000
Operating loss	(11,576,000)	(9,702,000)
Total other income (expense)	696,000	(3,000)
Loss before provision for income taxes	(10,880,000)	(9,705,000)
Provision for income taxes	(1,241,000)	(192,000)
Loss including noncontrolling interests in operating subsidiaries	(12,121,000)	(9,897,000)
Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests in operating subsidiaries	291,000	(68,000)
Net loss attributable to Acacia Research Corporation	$ (11,830,000)	$ (9,965,000)
Earnings Per Share, Basic and Diluted	$ (0.24)	$ (0.20)
Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding, Basic and Diluted	50,333,056	49,925,550