Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations - USD ($)	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2016
Revenues	$ 16,457,000	$ 41,351,000	$ 25,311,000	$ 66,072,000
Operating costs and expenses
Inventor royalties	4,273,000	0	4,939,000	1,573,000
Contingent legal fees	3,236,000	10,418,000	3,863,000	14,527,000
Litigation and licensing expenses - patents	4,134,000	7,324,000	10,520,000	15,047,000
Amortization of patents	5,571,000	10,759,000	11,086,000	21,519,000
General and administrative expenses (including non-cash stock compensation expense of $1,487 and $3,615 for the three and six months ended June 30, 2017 and $1,475 and $3,210 for the three and six months ended June 30, 2016, respectively)	6,734,000	7,535,000	13,650,000	15,529,000
Research, consulting and other expenses - business development	433,000	1,334,000	753,000	1,856,000
Impairment of patent-related intangible assets	0	40,165,000	0	40,165,000
Other expenses	0	(1,242,000)	0	500,000
Total operating costs and expenses	24,381,000	76,293,000	44,811,000	110,716,000
Operating loss	(7,924,000)	(34,942,000)	(19,500,000)	(44,644,000)
Gain on Conversion of Loan and Accrued Interest	2,671,000	0	2,671,000	0
Gain on exercise of warrant	4,616,000	0	4,616,000	0
Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Investments	(12,698,000)	0	(12,698,000)	0
Income (Loss) from Equity Method Investments	(14,000)	0	(14,000)	0
Interest Income, Other	580,000	10,000	1,298,000	19,000
Other Nonoperating Income (Expense)	(17,000)	(62,000)	(39,000)	(74,000)
Total other income (expense)	(4,862,000)	(52,000)	(4,166,000)	(55,000)
Loss before provision for income taxes	(12,786,000)	(34,994,000)	(23,666,000)	(44,699,000)
Provision for income taxes	(1,478,000)	(5,927,000)	(2,719,000)	(6,119,000)
Loss including noncontrolling interests in operating subsidiaries	(14,264,000)	(40,921,000)	(26,385,000)	(50,818,000)
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests in operating subsidiaries	12,000	348,000	303,000	280,000
Net loss attributable to Acacia Research Corporation	$ (14,252,000)	$ (40,573,000)	$ (26,082,000)	$ (50,538,000)
Earnings Per Share, Basic and Diluted	$ (0.28)	$ (0.81)	$ (0.52)	$ (1.01)
Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding, Basic and Diluted	50,499,248	50,015,869
Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding, Basic	50,499,248	50,015,869	50,416,611	49,970,709