INCOME/LOSS PER SHARE (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2023	Jun. 30, 2022	Jun. 30, 2023	Jun. 30, 2022
Numerator:
Net loss attributable to Acacia Research Corporation	$ (18,779)	$ (61,503)	$ (9,332)	$ (134,769)
Dividend on Series A redeemable convertible preferred stock	(700)	(699)	(1,400)	(1,399)
Accretion of Series A redeemable convertible preferred stock	(1,676)	(1,241)	(3,230)	(2,392)
Undistributed earnings allocated to participating securities	0	0	0	0
Net loss attributable to common stockholders - Basic	(21,155)	(63,443)	(13,962)	(138,560)
Add: Dividend on Series A redeemable convertible preferred stock	0	0	0	0
Less: Change in fair value of Series A warrants	0	0	0	0
Less: Change in fair value of dilutive Series B warrants	0	0	0	0
Add: Interest expense associated with Starboard Notes, net of tax	0	0	0	0
Add: Undistributed earnings allocated to participating securities	0	0	0	0
Reallocation of undistributed earnings to participating securities	0	0	0	0
Net loss attributable to common stockholders - Diluted	$ (21,155)	$ (63,443)	$ (13,962)	$ (138,560)
Denominator:
Weighted average number of shares outstanding - Basic	58,408,711	43,988,677	53,219,152	45,259,435
Potentially dilutive common shares:
Potentially dilutive common shares (in shares)	58,408,711	43,988,677	53,219,152	45,259,435
Weighted average number of shares outstanding, diluted	58,408,711	43,988,677	53,219,152	45,259,435
Basic net income (loss) per common share (in usd per share)	$ (0.36)	$ (1.44)	$ (0.26)	$ (3.06)
Diluted net (loss) income per common share (in usd per share)	$ (0.36)	$ (1.44)	$ (0.26)	$ (3.06)
Anti-dilutive potential common shares excluded from the computation of diluted net income/loss per share:
Antidilutive securities excluded from computation of earnings per share (in shares)	36,265,921	108,711,223	36,265,921	108,711,223
Add: Accretion of Series A redeemable convertible preferred stock	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0
Less: Change in fair value of Series A redeemable convertible preferred stock embedded derivative	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0
Restricted stock units
Potentially dilutive common shares:
Potentially dilutive common shares (in shares)	0	0	0	0
Stock options
Potentially dilutive common shares:
Potentially dilutive common shares (in shares)	0	0	0	0
Series A warrants
Potentially dilutive common shares:
Potentially dilutive common shares (in shares)	0	0	0	0
Series B warrants
Potentially dilutive common shares:
Potentially dilutive common shares (in shares)	0	0	0	0
Series A Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock
Potentially dilutive common shares:
Potentially dilutive common shares (in shares)	0	0	0	0
Equity-based incentive awards
Anti-dilutive potential common shares excluded from the computation of diluted net income/loss per share:
Antidilutive securities excluded from computation of earnings per share (in shares)	4,759,072	3,711,223	4,759,072	3,711,223
Series A warrants
Anti-dilutive potential common shares excluded from the computation of diluted net income/loss per share:
Antidilutive securities excluded from computation of earnings per share (in shares)	0	5,000,000	0	5,000,000
Series B warrants
Anti-dilutive potential common shares excluded from the computation of diluted net income/loss per share:
Antidilutive securities excluded from computation of earnings per share (in shares)	31,506,849	100,000,000	31,506,849	100,000,000