UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): January 4, 2016
ACACIA RESEARCH CORPORATION
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


Delaware
000-26068
95-4405754
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)
(Commission File Number)
(IRS Employer Identification No.)

520 Newport Center Drive,
Newport Beach, California
92660
(Address of principal executive offices)
(Zip Code)


Registrant’s telephone number, including area code:    (949) 480-8300
Not applicable            
(Former name or former address, if changed since last report.)
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):
 
Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
 
Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
 
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
 
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))








Item 5.02 Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.
On January 4, 2016, the Compensation Committee (the “Committee”) of the Board of Directors of Acacia Research Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), modified Section XIV of the Company’s 2013 Acacia Research Corporation Stock Incentive Plan (the “Plan”), pursuant to its authority as the “Plan Administrator” under Section XIX of the Plan, to provide that in the 2016 fiscal year the Company’s non-employee directors will not receive automatic grants of restricted stock units under the Plan as otherwise provided by that Section. For the 2016 fiscal year, any grants of restricted stock units under the Plan to the Company’s non-employee directors shall be at the discretion of the Committee.















































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, thereunto duly authorized.


Date:    January 7, 2016                ACACIA RESEARCH CORPORATION


By:    /s/ Edward Treska    
Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary