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Table of Contents UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION WASHINGTON , D.C. 20549 ☐ ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15 ( d ) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31 , 2020 FORM 10 - K □ TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15 ( d ) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 FOR THE TRANSITION PERIOD FROM ΤΟ DELAWARE ( State or other jurisdiction of incorporation organization ) Title of Each Class Common Stock , $ 0.001 par value OR 767 3RD AVENUE , SUITE 602 NEW YORK , NY ( Address of principal executive offices ) Commission File Number 001-37721 acacia RESEARCH CORPORATION ( Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter ) 95-4405754 ( I.R.S. Employer Identification No. ) 10017 ( Zip Code ) Registrant's telephone number , including area code : ( 949 ) 480-8300 Securities registered pursuant to Section 12 ( b ) of the Act : Name of Each Exchange on Which Registered The NASDAQ Stock Market , LLC Trading Symbol ( s ) . ACTG Securities registered pursuant to Section 12 ( g ) of the Act : None Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well - known seasoned issuer , as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act . Yes No Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15 ( d ) of the Act . Yes No Indicate by check mark whether the registrant ( 1 ) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15 ( d ) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months ( or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports ) , and ( 2 ) has been subject to filing requirements for the past 90 days . Yes No Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S - T ( §232.405 of this chapter ) during the preceding 12 months ( or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files ) . Yes > No Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer , an accelerated filer , a non - accelerated filer , a smaller reporting company , or an emerging growth company . See the definitions of “ large accelerated filer , ” “ accelerated filer , ” “ smaller reporting company " and " emerging growth company " in Rule 12b - 2 of the Exchange Act : Large accelerated filer Accelerated filer □