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) - February 25, 2003 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 or Organization) Identification No.) 000-26068 --------- (Commission File Number) 500 Newport Center Drive, Newport Beach, California 92660 --------------------------------------------------- ----- (Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code) Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (949) 480-8300 -------------- _____________________________ (Former Name or Former Address, if Changed since Last Report) ITEM 7. EXHIBITS. (a) Not Applicable. (b) Not Applicable. (c) Exhibits. Exhibit 99.1 ------------ Press Release dated February 25, 2003 of the Registrant. ITEM 9. REGULATION FD DISCLOSURE. On February 25, 2003, Acacia Research Corporation issued a press release, a copy of which is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1 and is incorporated herein by reference. -2- 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: February 25, 2003 By: /s/ Paul R. Ryan ------------------------------------------- Name: Paul R. Ryan Title: Chairman and Chief Executive Officer -3- EXHIBIT INDEX ------------- EXHIBIT NUMBER DESCRIPTION -------------- ----------- 99.1 Press Release dated February 25, 2003, of the Registrant.