Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations - USD ($)	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2017
Revenues	$ 6,485,000	$ 16,457,000	$ 68,578,000	$ 25,311,000
Operating costs and expenses
Inventor royalties	1,241,000	4,273,000	22,985,000	4,939,000
Contingent legal fees	1,037,000	3,236,000	16,796,000	3,863,000
Other Cost of Operating Revenue	0	0	4,000,000	0
Litigation and licensing expenses - patents	2,130,000	4,134,000	4,875,000	10,520,000
Amortization of patents	5,278,000	5,571,000	10,608,000	11,086,000
General and administrative expenses(1)	7,098,000	6,734,000	10,477,000	13,650,000
Other expenses - business development	327,000	433,000	493,000	753,000
Impairment of Intangible Assets (Excluding Goodwill)	29,210,000	0	29,210,000	0
Total operating costs and expenses	46,321,000	24,381,000	99,444,000	44,811,000
Operating loss	(39,836,000)	(7,924,000)	(30,866,000)	(19,500,000)
Gain on Conversion of Loan and Accrued Interest	0	2,671,000	0	2,671,000
Gain on exercise of warrant	0	4,616,000	0	4,616,000
Change in fair value of investment, net	11,347,000	(12,698,000)	(29,750,000)	(12,698,000)
Income (Loss) from Equity Method Investments	0	(14,000)	0	(14,000)
Interest income and other	268,000	563,000	475,000	1,259,000
Total other income (expense)	11,615,000	(4,862,000)	(29,275,000)	(4,166,000)
Loss before provision for income taxes	(28,221,000)	(12,786,000)	(60,141,000)	(23,666,000)
Provision for income taxes	(285,000)	(1,478,000)	(476,000)	(2,719,000)
Net loss including noncontrolling interests in subsidiaries	(28,506,000)	(14,264,000)	(60,617,000)	(26,385,000)
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests in subsidiaries	79,000	12,000	152,000	303,000
Net loss attributable to Acacia Research Corporation	(28,427,000)	(14,252,000)	(60,465,000)	(26,082,000)
Net Income (Loss) Available to Common Stockholders, Basic	$ (28,427,000)	$ (14,252,000)	$ (60,465,000)	$ (26,082,000)
Earnings Per Share, Basic and Diluted	$ (0.57)	$ (0.28)	$ (1.20)	$ (0.52)
Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding, Basic and Diluted	50,061,812	50,499,248	50,345,808	50,416,611
General and administrative expenses excluding share-based compensation	$ 5,892,000	$ 5,247,000	$ 10,295,000	$ 10,035,000
Non-cash stock compensation general and administrative	521,000	1,449,000	1,225,000	3,561,000
Non-cash stock compensation - profits interests	$ 685,000	$ 38,000	$ (1,043,000)	$ 54,000