XML 37 R29.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
v2.4.0.8

Goodwill and Other Identifiable Intangible Assets (Details) (USD $) | 3 Months Ended | 9 Months Ended |  | 9 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended | 9 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended
--- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | ---
Sep. 30, 2013 | Sep. 30, 2012 | Sep. 30, 2013 | Sep. 30, 2012 | Dec. 31, 2012 | Sep. 30, 2013 Minimum [Member] | Dec. 31, 2013 Minimum [Member] | Sep. 30, 2013 Maximum [Member] | Dec. 31, 2013 Maximum [Member]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Patents, accumulated amortization | $ 103,273,000 |  | $ 103,273,000 |  | $ 69,850,000 |  |  |  |
Useful life of patents and patent rights |  |  |  |  |  |  | 1 year |  | 8 years
Weighted average useful life of patents and patent rights |  |  | 7 years |  |  |  |  |  |
Patent acquisition costs paid |  |  | 10,416,000 | 64,960,000 |  |  |  |  |
Finite lived intangible asset acquired during the year, useful life |  |  |  |  |  | 1 year |  | 10 years |
Patent acquisition costs included in accrued expenses |  |  | 9,750,000 | 8,000,000 |  |  |  |  |
Accelerated amortization expense - up-front payments | 0 | 152,000 | 593,000 | 534,000 |  |  |  |  |
Accelerated amortization expense (termination) |  |  | $ 1,630,000 | $ 3,023,000 |  |  |  |  |

X
- Definition Accelerated amortization expense (termination) + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | actg_AcceleratedAmortizationExpenseTermination
Namespace Prefix: | actg_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Accelerated amortization expense related to up-front patent acquisition costs + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | actg_AcceleratedAmortizationExpenseUpFrontPayments
Namespace Prefix: | actg_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Acquired Finite Lived Intangible Asset, Useful Life + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | actg_AcquiredFiniteLivedIntangibleAssetUsefulLife
Namespace Prefix: | actg_
Data Type: | xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Patent Acquisition Costs Included in Accrued Expenses + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | actg_PatentAcquisitionCostsIncludedInAccruedExpenses
Namespace Prefix: | actg_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Patents, Accumulated Amortization + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | actg_PatentsAccumulatedAmortization
Namespace Prefix: | actg_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Weighted average amortization period of finite-lived intangible assets acquired either individually or as part of a group of assets, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 350 -SubTopic 30 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (a)(3) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26713463&loc=d3e16265-109275 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_AcquiredFiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsWeightedAverageUsefulLife
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsLineItems
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Useful life of finite-lived intangible assets, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetUsefulLife
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The cash outflow to acquire asset without physical form usually arising from contractual or other legal rights, excluding goodwill. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Glossary Investing Activities -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6516133 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 230 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 13 -Subparagraph (c) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=31042434&loc=d3e3213-108585 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_PaymentsToAcquireIntangibleAssets
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration