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Stockholders' Equity | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2016
Stockholders' Equity Note [Abstract] |
Stockholders' Equity | STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY Cash Dividends. On April 23, 2013, Acacia announced that its Board of Directors approved the adoption of a cash dividend policy that calls for the payment of an expected total annual cash dividend of $0.50 per common share, payable in the amount of $0.125 per share per quarter. Under the policy, the Company paid four quarterly cash dividends totaling $25,434,000 and $25,039,000 in 2015 and 2014, respectively. On February 25, 2016, Acacia announced that its Board of Directors terminated the company’s dividend policy effective February 23, 2016. The Board of Directors terminated the dividend policy due to a number of factors, including the Company’s financial performance and its available cash resources, the Company’s cash requirements and alternative uses of capital that the Board of Directors concluded would represent an opportunity to generate a greater return on investment for the Company and its stockholders. Tax Benefits Preservation Plan. On March 15, 2016, Acacia's Board of Directors announced that it unanimously approved the adoption of a Tax Benefits Preservation Plan (the “Plan"). The purpose of the Plan is to protect the Company's ability to utilize potential tax assets, such as net operating loss carryforwards (“NOLs") and tax credits to offset potential future taxable income. The Plan is designed to reduce the likelihood that the Company will experience an ownership change by discouraging any (i) person or group from acquiring beneficial ownership of 4.9% or more of the Company's outstanding common stock and (ii) any existing shareholders who, as of the time of the first public announcement of the adoption of the Plan, beneficially own more than 4.9% of the Company's then-outstanding shares of the Company's common stock from acquiring additional shares of the Company's common stock (subject to certain exceptions). There is no guarantee, however, that the Plan will prevent the Company from experiencing an ownership change. In connection with the adoption of the Plan, Acacia's Board of Directors authorized and declared a dividend distribution of one right for each outstanding share of the Company's common stock to shareholders of record at the close of business on March 16, 2016. Approval of 2016 Acacia Research Corporation Stock Incentive Plan. On April 26, 2016, Acacia’s Board of Directors adopted the 2016 Acacia Research Corporation Stock Incentive Plan, or the Plan, which was approved by the stockholders in June 2016. The Plan will expire on the 10th anniversary of the date of its approval by shareholders, except with respect to awards then outstanding, and no further awards may be granted thereafter. Summary of the Plan
• | Shares Available. The number of shares of our common stock initially reserved for issuance under the Plan shall be 4,500,000 shares plus any shares remaining available for issuance under our 2013 Acacia Research Corporation Stock Incentive Plan, or the 2013 Plan, as of the effective date of the Plan. As of the approval date of the Plan, 625,390 shares of our common stock were available for grant under the 2013 Plan.
• | Eligibility. Options, restricted stock units and direct stock awards may be granted under the Plan. Options may be either “incentive stock options,” as defined in Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, or the Code, or non-qualified stock options. Awards may be granted under the Plan to any employee, non-employee member of the Board of Directors, consultant or advisor who provides services to us or our subsidiaries, except for incentive stock options which may be granted only to our employees.
• | Administration. Generally, the Plan will be administered by either the entire Acacia Board of Directors or a committee of the Board of Directors, which shall consist of at least two members of the Board, each of whom must qualify as a “non-employee director” under Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange Act, an “outside director” under Section 162(m) of the Code and an “independent director” under the Nasdaq Listing Rules.
• | Discretionary Option Awards. The Plan administrator may grant either non-qualified stock options or incentive stock options. A stock option entitles the recipient to purchase a specified number of shares of our common stock at a fixed price subject to terms and conditions set by the Plan administrator, including conditions for exercise that must be satisfied, which typically will be based on continued provision of services. The exercise price of stock options granted under the Plan cannot be less than 100% of the fair market value of our common stock on the date the option is granted.
• | Direct Stock Awards. Direct stock awards may be issued under the Stock Issuance Program (as defined in the Plan) either alone or in addition to other awards granted under the Plan. The Plan administrator determines the terms and conditions of direct stock awards, including the number of shares of common stock granted, and the conditions for vesting that must be satisfied, if any, which typically will be based on continued provision of services but may include a performance-based component. Unless otherwise provided in the award agreement, the holder of a restricted direct stock award will have the rights of a stockholder from the date of grant of the award, including the right to vote the shares of common stock and the right to receive distributions on the shares.
• | Discretionary Restricted Stock Unit Awards. The Plan provides that the Plan administrator may grant restricted stock units to Plan participants. A restricted stock unit entitles the recipient to receive upon settlement thereof a specified number of shares of our common stock subject to terms and conditions set by the Plan administrator. The restricted stock units will vest as prescribed by the Plan administrator. The Plan permits payment of the purchase price of restricted stock units, if any, to be made by cash or cash equivalents, shares of our common stock previously acquired by the underlying optionee, cancellation of indebtedness, waiver of compensation due for services rendered or to be rendered, any other form of legal consideration determined by the Plan administrator, or any combination of the foregoing.
• | Termination of Employment. The Plan administrator will determine and set forth in the award agreement whether any awards will continue to be exercisable, and the terms of such exercise, on and after the date the participant ceases to be employed by, or to otherwise provide services to, us, whether by reason of death, disability, voluntary or involuntary termination of employment or service, or otherwise, but in no event shall any unvested awards vest after the date the participant ceases to be employed by, or otherwise provide services to, us.

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