Consolidated Statements of Income Statement (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2012	Mar. 31, 2011
Revenues	$ 99,040	$ 61,130
Cost of revenues:
Inventor royalties	7,594	13,089
Contingent legal fees	3,748	9,367
Litigation and licensing expenses - patents	3,381	3,534
Amortization of patents	5,126	3,772
Marketing, general and administrative expenses (including non-cash stock compensation expense of $3,568 and $9,891 for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011, respectively and $1,615 and $5,574 for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010, respectively)	13,731	9,985
Research, consulting and other expenses - business development	1,116	708
Total operating costs and expenses	34,696	40,455
Operating income	64,344	20,675
Interest and investment income	56	29
Income from operations before provision for income taxes	64,400	20,704
Provision for income taxes	(14,747)	(7,148)
Business Acquisition, Pro Forma Provision for Income Taxes	14,747	7,148
Net income including noncontrolling interests in operating subsidiaries	49,653	13,556
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests in operating subsidiaries	275	(1,203)
Business Acquisition, Pro Forma Net (Income) Loss Attributable to Noncontrolling Interests	(275)	1,203
Net income attributable to Acacia Research Corporation	$ 49,928	$ 12,353
Net income per common share attributable to Acacia Research Corporation:
Basic earnings per share	$ 1.13	$ 0.35
Diluted earnings per share	$ 1.09	$ 0.34
Weighted average number of shares outstanding, basic	44,367,499	35,182,811
Weighted average number of shares outstanding, diluted	45,771,228	36,448,005