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<FILING-DATE>20030821
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<CONFORMED-NAME>ACACIA RESEARCH CORP
<CIK>0000934549
<ASSIGNED-SIC>3670
<IRS-NUMBER>954405754
<STATE-OF-INCORPORATION>DE
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>1231
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<STREET1>500 NEWPORT CENTER DRIVE
<STREET2>7TH FLOOR
<CITY>NEWPORT BEACH
<STATE>CA
<ZIP>92660
<PHONE>9494808300
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<STREET2>#
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<STATE>CA
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<CONFORMED-NAME>RYAN PAUL R
<CIK>0001063083
<STATE-OF-INCORPORATION>CA
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>1231
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<FILING-VALUES>
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<FILM-NUMBER>03861067
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<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>C/O ACACIA RESEARCH CORPORATION
<STREET2>500 NEWPORT CENTER DRIVE, 7TH FLOOR
<CITY>NEWPORT BEACH
<STATE>CA
<ZIP>92660
<PHONE>949 480-8300
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>C/O ACACIA RESEARCH CORPORATION
<STREET2>500 NEWPORT CENTER DRIVE, 7TH FLOOR
<CITY>NEWPORT BEACH
<STATE>CA
<ZIP>92660
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<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-08-19</periodOfReport>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000934549</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>ACACIA RESEARCH CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>ACTG/CBMX</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001063083</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>RYAN PAUL R</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>500 NEWPORT CENTER DRIVE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEWPORT BEACH</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>92660</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
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            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>1</isDirector><isOfficer>1</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle>Chairman &amp; CEO</officerTitle></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><derivativeTable><derivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Stock Option (Right to Buy)</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>1.85</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-08-19</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>60000</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>0</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><footnoteId id="F1"/></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2013-08-19</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Acacia Research-Acacia Technologies Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>60000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>1102963</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeTransaction></derivativeTable><footnotes><footnote id="F1">20,000 option shares are exercisable December 31, 2003.  The balance of the option shares are exercisable in 24 equal monthly installments upon completion of each additional month of service measured from December 31, 2003. </footnote></footnotes><remarks/><ownerSignature><signatureName>Paul R. Ryan</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-08-21</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

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