SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

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                                    FORM 8-K
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                                 CURRENT REPORT
                     PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
                         SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

                                 OCTOBER 4, 2004
                DATE OF REPORT (DATE OF EARLIEST EVENT REPORTED)

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                           ACACIA RESEARCH CORPORATION
             (Exact name of Registrant as specified in its Charter)


          Delaware                     000-26068                 95-4405754
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(State or Other Jurisdiction          (Commission              (I.R.S. Employer
       of Incorporation)              File Number)           Identification No.)


                            500 Newport Center Drive,
                         Newport Beach, California 92660
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                    (Address of Principal Executive Offices)


                                 (949) 480-8300
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               Registrant's telephone number, including area code


                                 Not Applicable
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          (Former Name or Former Address, if Changed since Last Report)



ITEM 8.01. OTHER EVENTS

            On October 4, 2004, Acacia Research Corporation issued a press
release, a copy of which is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1 and is incorporated
herein by reference.



                                   SIGNATURES


         Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned, hereunto duly authorized.


                                     ACACIA RESEARCH CORPORATION


Date:  October 4, 2004          By:  /S/ PAUL R. RYAN
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                                     Name:  Paul R. Ryan
                                     Title: Chairman and Chief Executive Officer


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                                  EXHIBIT INDEX


EXHIBIT NUMBER           DESCRIPTION
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     99.1                Press Release dated October 4, 2004, of the Registrant.