Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations - USD ($)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2019	Mar. 31, 2018
Revenues	$ 3,387,000	$ 62,093,000
Operating costs and expenses
Inventor royalties	1,353,000	21,744,000
Contingent legal fees	177,000	15,759,000
Patent acquisition expenses	0	4,000,000
Litigation and licensing expenses - patents	3,801,000	2,989,000
Amortization of patents	656,000	5,330,000
Other portfolio expenses	650,000	0
Total portfolio operations	6,637,000	49,822,000
Net portfolio income	(3,250,000)	12,271,000
General and administrative expenses(1)	3,695,000	3,301,000
Net income (loss)	(6,945,000)	8,970,000
Change in fair value of investment, net	6,908,000	(41,097,000)
Loss on Sale of Investments	(5,590,000)	0
Interest income and other	1,543,000	207,000
Total other income (expense)	2,861,000	(40,890,000)
Loss before provision for income taxes	(4,084,000)	(31,920,000)
Provision for income taxes	(314,000)	(191,000)
Net loss including noncontrolling interests in subsidiaries	(4,398,000)	(32,111,000)
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests in subsidiaries	14,000	73,000
Net loss attributable to Acacia Research Corporation	(4,384,000)	(32,038,000)
Net Income (Loss) Available to Common Stockholders, Basic	$ (4,384,000)	$ (32,038,000)
Earnings Per Share, Basic and Diluted	$ (0.09)	$ (0.63)
Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding, Basic and Diluted	49,655,881	50,632,958
General and administrative expenses excluding share-based compensation	$ 3,703,000	$ 4,325,000
Non-cash stock compensation general and administrative	(8,000)	704,000
Non-cash stock compensation - profits interests	$ 0	$ (1,728,000)