Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations - USD ($)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016
Revenues	$ 36,633,000	$ 64,658,000	$ 61,944,000	$ 130,730,000
Operating costs and expenses
Inventor royalties	0	17,844,000	4,939,000	19,417,000
Contingent legal fees	12,173,000	7,709,000	16,036,000	22,236,000
Litigation and licensing expenses - patents	4,073,000	7,348,000	14,593,000	22,895,000
Amortization of patents	5,625,000	6,467,000	16,711,000	27,986,000
General and administrative expenses(2)	12,715,000	8,334,000	26,365,000	23,863,000
Other expenses - business development	241,000	666,000	994,000	2,522,000
Impairment of patent-related intangible assets	2,248,000	0	2,248,000	40,165,000
Total operating costs and expenses	37,075,000	48,368,000	81,886,000	159,084,000
Operating income (loss)	(442,000)	16,290,000	(19,942,000)	(28,354,000)
Gain on Conversion of Loan and Accrued Interest	0	0	2,671,000	0
Gain on exercise of warrant	0	0	4,616,000	0
Change in fair value of investment, net	158,979,000	0	146,281,000	0
Equity in earnings (losses) of investee	(116,000)	0	(130,000)	0
Interest income and other	164,000	261,000	1,423,000	206,000
Total other income (expense)	159,027,000	261,000	154,861,000	206,000
Income (loss) before provision for income taxes	158,585,000	16,551,000	134,919,000	(28,148,000)
Provision for income taxes	(216,000)	(9,655,000)	(2,935,000)	(15,774,000)
Net income (loss) including noncontrolling interests in subsidiaries	158,369,000	6,896,000	131,984,000	(43,922,000)
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests in subsidiaries	96,000	186,000	399,000	466,000
Net loss attributable to Acacia Research Corporation	158,465,000	7,082,000	132,383,000	(43,456,000)
Net Income (Loss) Available to Common Stockholders, Basic	158,326,000	7,043,000	132,142,000	(43,456,000)
Net Income (Loss) Available to Common Stockholders, Diluted	$ 158,326,000	$ 7,043,000	$ 132,143,000	$ (43,456,000)
Earnings Per Share, Basic	$ 3.13	$ 0.14	$ 2.62	$ (0.87)
Earnings Per Share, Diluted	$ 3.13	$ 0.14	$ 2.61	$ (0.87)
Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding, Basic	50,554,234	50,124,302	50,462,990	50,024,047
Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding, Basic and Diluted	50,599,974	50,618,757	50,684,725	50,024,047
General and administrative expenses excluding share-based compensation	$ 3,262,000	$ 5,790,000	$ 13,297,000	$ 18,109,000
Non-cash stock compensation general and administrative	1,272,000	2,544,000	4,833,000	5,754,000
Non-cash stock compensation - profits interests	$ 8,181,000	$ 0	$ 8,235,000	$ 0