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Quarterly Financial Data (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands | 3 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended
--- | --- | ---
Dec. 31, 2017 | Sep. 30, 2017 | Jun. 30, 2017 | Mar. 31, 2017 | Dec. 31, 2016 | Sep. 30, 2016 | Jun. 30, 2016 | Mar. 31, 2016 | Dec. 31, 2017 | Dec. 31, 2016 | Dec. 31, 2015
QUARTERLY FINANCIAL DATA (unaudited) [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Revenues | $ 3,458 | $ 36,633 | $ 16,457 | $ 8,854 | $ 21,969 | $ 64,658 | $ 41,351 | $ 24,721 |  |  |
Inventor royalties | 13 | 0 | 4,273 | 666 | 3,313 | 17,844 | 0 | 1,573 | $ 4,952 | $ 22,730 | $ 18,462
Contingent legal fees | 646 | 12,173 | 3,236 | 627 | 4,238 | 7,709 | 10,418 | 4,109 | 16,682 | 26,474 | 16,169
Litigation and licensing expenses - patents | 3,626 | 4,073 | 4,134 | 6,386 | 5,463 | 7,348 | 7,324 | 7,723 | 18,219 | 27,858 | 39,373
Amortization of patents | 5,443 | 5,625 | 5,571 | 5,515 | 6,222 | 6,467 | 10,759 | 10,760 | 22,154 | 34,208 | 53,067
Marketing, general and administrative expenses (including non-cash stock compensation expense) | 335 | (12,715) | (6,734) | (6,916) | (9,056) | (8,334) | (7,535) | (7,994) | (26,030) | (32,919) | (38,176)
Other expenses - business development | 195 | 241 | 433 | 320 | 557 | 666 | 1,334 | 522 | 1,189 | 3,079 | 3,391
Impairment of Patent-Related Intangible Assets | 0 | 2,248 | 0 | 0 | 2,175 | 0 | 40,165 | 0 | 2,248 | 42,340 | 74,731
Impairment of Goodwill |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0 | 0 | 30,149
Other | 1,200 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | (1,242) | 1,742 | 1,200 | 500 | 4,141
Total operating costs and expenses | 10,788 | 37,075 | 24,381 | 20,430 | 31,024 | 48,368 | 76,293 | 34,423 | 92,674 | 190,108 | 277,659
Operating loss | (7,330) | (442) | (7,924) | (11,576) | (9,055) | 16,290 | (34,942) | (9,702) | (27,272) | (37,409) | (152,622)
Total other income (expense) | (102,950) | 159,027 | (4,862) | 696 | 592 | 261 | (52) | (3) | 51,911 | 798 | (56)
Income (loss) from operations before (provision for) benefit from income taxes | (110,280) | 158,585 | (12,786) | (10,880) | (8,463) | 16,551 | (34,994) | (9,705) | 24,639 | (36,611) | (152,678)
(Provision) benefit for income taxes | (20) | (216) | (1,478) | (1,241) | (2,414) | (9,655) | (5,927) | (192) | (2,955) | (18,188) | (4,800)
Net income (loss) including noncontrolling interests in subsidiaries | (110,300) | 158,369 | (14,264) | (12,121) | (10,877) | 6,896 | (40,921) | (9,897) | 21,684 | (54,799) | (157,478)
Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests in subsidiaries | (97) | (96) | (12) | (291) | (266) | (186) | (348) | 68 | (496) | (732) | 2,558
Net income (loss) attributable to Acacia Research Corporation | $ (110,203) | $ 158,465 | $ (14,252) | $ (11,830) | $ (10,611) | $ 7,082 | $ (40,573) | $ (9,965) | $ 22,180 | $ (54,067) | $ (160,036)
Earnings Per Share, Basic and Diluted | $ (2.18) | $ 3.13 | $ (0.28) | $ (0.24) | $ (0.21) | $ 0.14 | $ (0.81) | $ (0.20) | $ 0.44 | $ (1.08) | $ (3.25)
Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding, Basic and Diluted | 50,590,460 | 50,554,234 | 50,499,948 | 50,333,056 | 50,237,784 | 50,124,302 | 50,015,869 | 49,925,550 |  |  |
Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding, Diluted | 50,590,460 | 50,599,974 | 50,499,948 | 50,333,056 | 50,237,784 | 50,618,757 | 50,015,869 | 49,925,550 | 50,692,012 | 50,075,847 | 49,505,817

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