Sec Form 3 Filing - Golby Lawrence Wesley @ ACACIA RESEARCH CORP - 2021-11-12

FORM 3 Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b).

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Section 17(a) of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940

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1. Name and Address of Reporting Person Golby Lawrence Wesley 2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol ACACIA RESEARCH CORP [ ACTG] 5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer (Check all applicable) _____ Director _____ 10% Owner X __ Officer (give title below) _____ Other (specify below) Director of Research (Last) (First) (Middle) C/O ACACIA RESEARCH, CORP., 4 PARK PLAZA, SUITE 550 3. Date of Earliest Transaction (MM/DD/YY) 11/12/2021 (Street) IRVINE, CA92614 4. If Amendment, Date Original Filed (MM/DD/YY) 6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing (Check Applicable Line) __ X __ Form filed by One Reporting Person _____ Form filed by More than One Reporting Person (City) (State) (Zip)

Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned 1.Title of Security (Instr. 3) 2. Transaction Date (MM/DD/YY) 2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (MM/DD/YY) 3. Transaction Code (Instr. 8) 4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4 and 5) 5. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 3 and 4) 6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4) 7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4) Code V Amount (A) or (D) Price ACTG Common Stock 80,000( 1 ) D ACTG Common Stock 45,000( 2 ) D ACTG Common Stock 20,000( 3 ) D ACTG Common Stock 6,700( 4 ) I By: Daughters

Table II - Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned ( e.g. , puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities) 1. Title of Derivative Security (Instr. 3) 2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security 3. Transaction Date (MM/DD/YY) 3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (MM/DD/YY) 4. Transaction Code (Instr. 8) 5. Number of Derivative Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4, and 5) 6. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date (MM/DD/YY) 7. Title and Amount of Underlying Securities (Instr. 3 and 4) 8. Price of Derivative Security (Instr. 5) 9. Number of Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 4) 10. Ownership Form of Derivative Security: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4) 11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4) Code V (A) (D) Date Exercisable Expiration Date Title Amount or Number of Shares Stock Option (Right to Buy) $ 5.84 ( 5 ) 08/23/2031 Acacia Research Corporation Common Stock 112,500 D

Reporting Owners Reporting Owner Name / Address Relationships Director 10% Owner Officer Other Golby Lawrence Wesley C/O ACACIA RESEARCH, CORP. 4 PARK PLAZA, SUITE 550 IRVINE, CA92614 Director of Research Signatures /s/ Jennifer Graff, Attorney in fact 11/22/2021 Signature of Reporting Person Date

Explanation of Responses:

( 1 )This award of restricted stock awards ("RSAs") is made pursuant to the 2013 Acacia Research Corporation Stock Incentive Plan. The RSAs vest annually in equal installments over three years starting from August 1, 2020 (the "Grant Date"), such that the RSAs shall be fully vested on the date which is three years from the Grant Date. ( 2 )This award of restricted stock units ("RSUs") is made pursuant to the 2016 Acacia Research Corporation Stock Incentive Plan. The RSUs will vest annually in equal installments on the date of each of the Company's 2022, 2023 and 2024 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, respectively. ( 3 )These shares are held in two IRA accounts in the reporting person's name. ( 4 )These shares are held in trusts for the benefit of the minor daughters of the reporting person and for which the reporting person is an investment advisor. ( 5 )One third of the option shares will vest and be exercisable on the date of each of the Company's 2022, 2023 and 2024 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, respectively.

Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly.

* If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 4(b)(v).

** Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations. See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).

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