INCOME/LOSS PER SHARE (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2024	Mar. 31, 2023
Numerator:
Net (loss) income attributable to Acacia Research Corporation	$ (186)	$ 9,447
Dividend on Series A redeemable convertible preferred stock	0	(700)
Accretion of Series A redeemable convertible preferred stock	0	(1,554)
Undistributed earnings allocated to participating securities	0	(1,235)
Net (loss) income attributable to common stockholders - Basic	(186)	5,958
Add: Dividend on Series A redeemable convertible preferred stock	0	700
Add: Accretion of Series A redeemable convertible preferred stock	0	1,554
Less: Change in fair value of Series A redeemable convertible preferred stock embedded derivative	0	(5,023)
Less: Change in fair value of dilutive Series B warrants	0	(11,628)
Add: Interest expense associated with Starboard Notes, net of tax	0	708
Add: Undistributed earnings allocated to participating securities	0	1,235
Net loss attributable to common stockholders - Diluted	$ (186)	$ (6,496)
Denominator:
Weighted average number of shares outstanding - Basic	99,745,905	47,971,931
Potentially dilutive common shares:
Potentially dilutive common shares (in shares)	99,745,905	89,067,821
Weighted average number of shares outstanding, diluted	99,745,905	89,067,821
Basic net income (loss) per common share (in usd per share)	$ 0	$ 0.12
Diluted net (loss) income per common share (in usd per share)	$ 0	$ (0.07)
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)	4,231,699	2,368,870
Series B warrants
Potentially dilutive common shares:
Potentially dilutive common shares (in shares)	0	31,506,849
Series A Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock
Potentially dilutive common shares:
Potentially dilutive common shares (in shares)	0	9,589,041
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)	4,231,699	2,368,870