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 JULY 13, 2004 DATE OF REPORT (DATE OF EARLIEST EVENT REPORTED) ------------ ACACIA RESEARCH CORPORATION (Exact name of Registrant as specified in its Charter) Delaware 95-4405754 -------- ---------- (State or Other Jurisdiction (I.R.S. Employer of Incorporation) Identification No.) 000-26068 --------- (Commission File Number) 500 Newport Center Drive, Newport Beach, California 92660 (Address of Principal Executive Offices) (949) 480-8300 Registrant's telephone number, including area code Not Applicable (Former Name or Former Address, if Changed since Last Report) ITEM 7. EXHIBITS. (c) Exhibits. 99.1 Press Release dated July 13, 2004 of the Registrant. ITEM 9. REGULATION FD DISCLOSURE. On July 13, 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: July 13, 2004 By: /S/ PAUL R. RYAN ------------------------------------------- Name: Paul R. Ryan Title: Chairman and Chief Executive Officer -2- EXHIBIT INDEX EXHIBIT NUMBER DESCRIPTION -------------- ----------- 99.1 Press Release dated July 13, 2004, of the Registrant. -3-