<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001704759-17-000002.txt : 20170427
<SEC-HEADER>0001704759-17-000002.hdr.sgml : 20170427
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20170427170753
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001704759-17-000002
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	3
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20170419
FILED AS OF DATE:		20170427
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20170427

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			ACACIA RESEARCH CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000934549
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	PATENT OWNERS & LESSORS [6794]
		IRS NUMBER:				954405754
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		520 NEWPORT CENTER DRIVE
		STREET 2:		12TH FLOOR
		CITY:			NEWPORT BEACH
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			92660
		BUSINESS PHONE:		9494808300

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		520 NEWPORT CENTER DRIVE
		STREET 2:		12TH FLOOR
		CITY:			NEWPORT BEACH
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			92660

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Stewart Robert B Jr
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001704759

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		3
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-37721
		FILM NUMBER:		17790148

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		520 NEWPORT CENTER DR.
		STREET 2:		12TH FLOOR
		CITY:			NEWPORT BEACH
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			92660
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>3
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0206</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>3</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2017-04-19</periodOfReport>

    <noSecuritiesOwned>0</noSecuritiesOwned>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000934549</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>ACACIA RESEARCH CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>ACTG</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001704759</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Stewart Robert B Jr</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>520 NEWPORT CENTER DR.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>12TH FLOOR</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEWPORT BEACH</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>92660</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>President</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>95687</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Option (Right to Buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>3.12</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2017-05-20</value>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2023-03-01</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Acacia Research Corporation Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>79338</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Option (Right to Buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>3.90</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2017-05-20</value>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2023-03-01</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Acacia Research Corporation Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>187938</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Option (Right to Buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>5.75</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2023-08-01</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Acacia Research Corporation Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>750000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Option (Right to Buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>5.40</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2017-05-20</value>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2024-03-15</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Acacia Research Corporation Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>96153</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Option (Right to Buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>6.75</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2017-05-20</value>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2024-03-15</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Acacia Research Corporation Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>113032</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The shares underlying the options shall vest in installments of 25% upon the company's achievement of certain stock price targets.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">The option shares are exercisable in six equal installments over a three-year term with vesting aligned to the officer vesting schedule per a Board of Director's prior resolution on officer vesting.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Robert B. Stewart, Jr.</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2017-04-27</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
