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                           ACACIA RESEARCH CORPORATION




February 10, 1997


VIA FAX AND FEDERAL EXPRESS
---------------------------
Fax No.:  (203) 869-8594


Mr. H. Lee Browne
Greenwich Information Technologies LLC
Two Soundview Drive
Greenwich, Connecticut  06830


Dear Lee:

The undersigned, Acacia Research Corporation, a California corporation (the 
"Company"), and Greenwich Information Technologies LLC, a Delaware limited 
liability company ("Greenwich"), entered into a letter of agreement, as 
amended (the "Letter Agreement"), whereby the Company agreed to invest 
$1,000,000 on or before January 31, 1997 in exchange for a 33.33% membership 
interest in Greenwich (the "Investment").  As of the date of this letter, the 
Company has already paid Greenwich $475,000.  This letter reflects the 
parties' agreement as to the manner in which the Company will perform its 
payment obligations with respect to the remaining $525,000, as described 
below.

    1.   ISSUANCE OF PROMISSORY NOTE.  The Company shall issue to Greenwich a 
non-recourse promissory note in the principal amount of $525,000 bearing 
simple interest at 6.5% per annum (the "Note").  Such interest shall not 
compound.  The Company shall make payments to Greenwich, in repayment of the 
Note, pursuant to the following schedule:

         (a)  commencing February 10, 1997 and continuing through July 1, 1997,
              the Company shall pay Greenwich the principal amount of $25,000 
              on February 10, 1997 and, thereafter, on the first business day 
              of each month;
         (b)  commencing August 1, 1997 and continuing through December 1, 1997,
              the Company shall pay Greenwich the principal amount of $50,000 
              on the first business day of each month; and
         (c)  on December 31, 1997, the Company shall pay Greenwich the
              outstanding principal amount of the Note, together with all 
              accrued and unpaid interest.

    All payments made in accordance with the foregoing payment schedule shall 
be credited to the principal on the Note, unless otherwise provided herein.  
The Company shall have the option, but not the obligation, on each date on 
which an installment of principal is due and payable hereunder to pay any 
interest which has accrued as of such installment date.  Repayment of the 
Note is also subject to acceleration as described in a Pledge Agreement 
relating to the Note.

    2.   EXECUTION OF PLEDGE AGREEMENT.  The Company and Greenwich shall 
enter into a Pledge Agreement, whereby the Company will pledge a portion of 
its membership interest in Greenwich in order to secure the Company's 
obligations under the Note.


<PAGE>

Page Two of Two
Greenwich Information Technologies LLC/Letter Agreement
February 10, 1997



    3.    AMENDMENTS AND MODIFICATIONS TO PRIOR AGREEMENTS.  The Letter 
Agreement, and all other related agreements and obligations, whether oral or 
written, relating to the Investment are hereby modified and amended to 
conform in all respects to the agreements of the parties as described in this 
letter.

                                       Sincerely,

                                       ACACIA RESEARCH CORPORATION
                                       a California corporation


                                       By: /s/  Paul R. Ryan
                                           -------------------------------------
                                           Paul R. Ryan
                                           President and Chief Executive Officer


Agreed To And Accepted By:


GREENWICH INFORMATION TECHNOLOGIES LLC
a Delaware limited liability company


By:  /s/  H. Lee Browne
---------------------------------------
     H. Lee Browne
     Chief Executive Officer



<PAGE>

                                  NON-RECOURSE
                                 PROMISSORY NOTE
                              DUE DECEMBER 31, 1997


$525,000.00                                                Pasadena, California
                                                           February 10, 1997

          FOR VALUE RECEIVED, ACACIA RESEARCH CORPORATION, a California
corporation ("MAKER"), unconditionally promises to pay to the order of GREENWICH
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGIES LLC, a Delaware limited liability company ("PAYEE"), in
the manner and at the place hereinafter provided, the principal amount of FIVE
HUNDRED TWENTY FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS ($525,000.00).

          Maker also promises to pay interest on the unpaid principal amount
hereof from the date hereof until paid in full at a simple interest rate equal
to 6.5% per annum.  Such interest shall not compound.  Interest on this Note
shall be payable on the maturity date and as set forth in Section 3 hereof.  All
computations of interest shall be made by Payee on the basis of a 365 day year,
for the actual number of days elapsed in the relevant period (including the
first day but excluding the last day).

          1.   PAYMENTS.  All payments of principal and interest in respect of
this Note shall be made in lawful money of the United States of America.  Each
payment made hereunder shall be credited to principal, unless otherwise provided
herein, and interest shall thereupon cease to accrue upon the principal so
credited.

          2.   PAYMENT SCHEDULE.  Maker shall pay Payee, in repayment of the
Note, pursuant to the following schedule:

     (a)  commencing February 10, 1997 and continuing through July 1, 1997,
          Maker shall pay Payee the principal amount of $25,000.00 on
          February 10, 1997 and, thereafter, on the first business day of
          each month;
     (b)  commencing August 1, 1997 and continuing through December 1,
          1997, Maker shall pay Payee the principal amount of $50,000.00 on
          the first business day of each month; and
     (c)  on December 31, 1997, Maker shall pay Payee the outstanding
          principal amount of this Note, together with any accrued and
          unpaid interest.

          3.   PREPAYMENTS.  Maker shall have the right at any time and from
time to time to prepay the principal of this Note in whole or in part, without
premium or penalty, such prepayment, if in full, to be accompanied by accrued
and unpaid interest to the date of prepayment.  Maker shall also have the
option, but not the obligation, on each date on which an installment of
principal is due and payable hereunder to pay any interest which has accrued as
of such installment date.  If, prior to the complete repayment of this Note,
Maker receives a Distribution (as such term is defined in that certain Pledge
Agreement between



<PAGE>

Maker and Payee as of even date herewith that secures the obligations of this 
Note (the "Pledge Agreement")), Maker shall use the Distribution to prepay 
this Note in an amount equal to the Distribution.  Such prepayment shall be 
without premium or penalty.

          4.   ACCELERATION.  The outstanding principal amount of this Note, 
together with any accrued and unpaid interest thereon, shall become due and 
payable by Maker, prior to the complete repayment of the Note, within 10 
business days after the closing of one or more transactions (including, 
without limitation, offerings of equity, the incurrence of debt or the sale 
of the Company's investment securities) in which Maker raises capital 
generating net proceeds in excess of $2,000,000.00 in the aggregate to be 
used for Company purposes (and not to be used for affiliates or subsidiaries).

          5.   EVENTS OF DEFAULT.  The occurrence of any of the following 
events shall constitute an "EVENT OF DEFAULT": 

          (a)  failure of Maker to pay any principal under this Note when due,
     whether at stated maturity, required prepayment, acceleration, or
     otherwise, or failure of Maker to pay any interest or other amount due
     under this Note within five business days after the date due; and

          (b)  if Maker shall challenge, or institute any proceedings to
     challenge, the validity, binding effect or enforceability of this Note or
     any endorsement of this Note or any other obligation to Payee.

          6.   REMEDIES.  Upon the occurrence and during the continuance of any
Event of Default, Payee may, by written notice to Maker, declare the principal
amount of this Note, together with accrued interest thereon, to be due and
payable, and the principal amount of this Note, together with such interest,
shall thereupon immediately become due and payable without presentment, further
notice, protest or other requirements of any kind (all of which are hereby
expressly waived by Maker). 

          7.   MISCELLANEOUS. 

          (a)  Any notice or other communication herein required or permitted to
be given shall be in writing and may be personally served, telexed or sent by
telefacsimile or United States mail or courier service and shall be deemed to
have been given when delivered in person or by courier service, upon receipt of
telefacsimile or telex, or three business days after depositing it in the United
States mail with postage prepaid and properly addressed.  For the purposes
hereof, the address of Maker shall be as specified under its signature below;
the address of Payee shall be Greenwich Information Technologies LLC, c/o Mr. H.
Lee Browne, Two Soundview Drive, Greenwich, Connecticut 06830; or in each case
at such other address as shall be designated by Payee or Maker.

          (b)  No failure or delay on the part of Payee or any other holder of
this Note to exercise any right, power or privilege under this Note and no
course of dealing between Maker and Payee shall impair such right, power or
privilege or operate as a waiver of any default or an acquiescence therein, nor
shall any single


<PAGE>

or partial exercise of any such right, power or privilege preclude any other 
or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, power or 
privilege. The rights and remedies expressly provided in this Note are 
cumulative to, and not exclusive of, any rights or remedies that Payee would 
otherwise have.  No notice to or demand on Maker in any case shall entitle 
Maker to any other or further notice or demand in similar or other 
circumstances or constitute a waiver of the right of Payee to any other or 
further action in any circumstances without notice or demand.

          (c)  Maker and any endorser of this Note hereby consent to renewals
and extensions of time at or after the maturity hereof, without notice, and
hereby waive diligence, presentment, protest, demand and notice of every kind
and, to the full extent permitted by law, the right to plead any statute of
limitations as a defense to any demand hereunder.

          (d)  If any provision in or obligation under this Note shall be
invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any jurisdiction, the validity, legality
and enforceability of the remaining provisions or obligations, or of such
provision or obligation in any other jurisdiction, shall not in any way be
affected or impaired thereby.

          (e)  This Note is non-recourse to the Maker and its assets, and Maker
shall have no personal liability under this Note.  Payee's only recourse shall
be against the collateral pledged to Payee under the Pledge Agreement.

          (f)  This Note and the rights and obligations of Maker and Payee
hereunder shall be governed by, and shall be construed and enforced in
accordance with, the internal laws of the State of California without regard to
conflicts of laws principles. 



                 [REMAINDER OF PAGE LEFT INTENTIONALLY BLANK]


<PAGE>

          IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Maker has caused this Note to be executed and
delivered by its authorized officer as of the day and year and at the place
first above written.

                                    ACACIA RESEARCH CORPORATION


                                         /s/ Paul R. Ryan
                                    ----------------------------------------
                                    By:   Paul R. Ryan
                                    Its:  President and Chief Executive Officer



                                    Notice Address:
                                    Acacia Research Corporation
                                    12 South Raymond Avenue
                                    Pasadena, California  91105



<PAGE>

                                PLEDGE AGREEMENT

          This PLEDGE AGREEMENT (this "Agreement") is dated as of February 
10, 1997 and entered into by and between ACACIA RESEARCH CORPORATION, a 
California corporation ("Pledgor"), and GREENWICH INFORMATION TECHNOLOGIES 
LLC, a Delaware limited liability company ("Secured Party" or the "Company"). 
 

                             PRELIMINARY STATEMENTS

          A.   Pledgor is a party to that certain Operating Agreement of the 
Company dated as of September 11, 1996 (the "Operating Agreement"), pursuant 
to which Pledgor received a 33.33% membership interest in the Company in 
exchange for Pledgor's agreement to contribute $1,000,000 to the Company.  

          B.   Pledgor has sold 3.31% of its membership interest in the 
Company. As a result, Pledgor owns a 30.02% membership interest in the 
Company. 

          C.   As of the date hereof, Pledgor has paid $475,000 of the 
$1,000,000 it agreed to contribute to the Company in exchange for its 
original 33.33% membership interest.  Pledgor must contribute an additional 
$525,000, representing 17.5% of its 30.02% membership interest in the Company 
in order to satisfy all of its payment obligations for the 33.33% membership 
interest originally purchased.

          D.   Secured Party has entered into a letter agreement dated as of 
the date hereof (the "Letter Agreement") with Pledgor pursuant to which 
Pledgor and Secured Party have agreed as to the manner in which Pledgor will 
meet its remaining payment obligations with respect to 17.5% of the 
membership interest in the Company owned by Pledgor.

          E.   Pursuant to the Letter Agreement, Pledgor has issued to 
Secured Party a promissory note dated as of the date hereof (such promissory 
note, as it may hereafter be amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from 
time to time, being the "Note", the terms defined therein and not otherwise 
defined herein being used herein as therein defined).

          F.   Pursuant to the Letter Agreement, Secured Party and Pledgor 
have agreed that the Note shall be secured by the pledge and security 
interests contemplated by this Agreement.

          NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and in order to 
induce Secured Party to accept the Note and for other good and valuable 
consideration, the receipt and adequacy of which are hereby acknowledged, 
Pledgor hereby agrees with Secured Party as follows:


<PAGE>

          SECTION 1.  PLEDGE OF SECURITY.  Pledgor hereby pledges and assigns 
to Secured Party, and hereby grants to Secured Party a security interest in, 
all of Pledgor's right, title and interest in and to:

          (a)  That portion of Pledgor's membership interest in the Company, 
calculated as of the date hereof as follows:

                     Date of 
                     Determination               Pledged Interest
                     -------------               ----------------
               (i)   on or prior to the          20.79%
                     date on which 
                     Pledgor shall have 
                     made aggregate
                     payments in respect
                     of the Note of
                     $200,000

              (ii)   following the date set      17.5%
                     forth in Section 1(a)(i)
                     above

(on any such date of determination, the "Pledged Interest"); and 

         (b)  Subject to the provisions of Section 5(a) and Section 5(b), all 
cash, securities, distributions and other property at any time and from time 
to time received, receivable or otherwise distributed in respect of or in 
exchange for any or all of the Pledged Interest (the Pledged Interest and the 
pledged property identified in this subsection (b) are collectively referred 
to hereinafter as the "Pledged Collateral").  

         SECTION 2.  SECURITY FOR OBLIGATIONS.  This Agreement secures, and 
the Pledged Collateral is collateral security for, the prompt payment or 
performance in full when due, whether at stated maturity, required 
prepayment, acceleration or otherwise, of all obligations and liabilities of 
Pledgor arising out of or in connection with the Note and all extensions or 
renewals thereof, whether for principal or interest, and all obligations of 
Pledgor now or hereafter existing under this Agreement, including without 
limitation obligations under Section 12 hereof (all such obligations of 
Pledgor being the "Secured Obligations").

         SECTION 3.  COVENANTS AS TO THE PLEDGED COLLATERAL.  So long as any 
of the Secured Obligations shall remain outstanding, Pledgor shall not, 
unless Secured Party shall otherwise consent in writing, sell, assign, 
exchange or otherwise dispose of any of the Pledged Collateral or any 
interest therein or create or suffer to exist any lien, security interest or 
other charge or encumbrance upon or with respect to any of the Pledged 
Collateral, except for the pledge hereunder and the security interest created 
hereby; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that Pledgor shall be entitled to transfer the 
Pledged Interest so long as (a) such transfer is permitted by the terms of 
the Operating Agreement, (b) such transfer is subject to the lien of and the 
other terms and conditions of this Pledge Agreement, (c) any such assignee 
becomes a party to this Pledge Agreement and agrees to be bound by the 



<PAGE>

terms hereof and thereof, (d) Secured Party is given possession of any new 
certificate representing such membership interest and executed transfer power 
evidencing the transfer of such Pledged Interest to such assignee, and (e) 
any such assignee shall take such further actions and execute such further 
documents as shall be necessary to perfect or evidence a security interest of 
Secured Party in the Pledged Collateral. 

         SECTION 4.  FURTHER ASSURANCES.  0Pledgor agrees that from time to 
time, Pledgor will execute and deliver all further instruments and documents, 
and take all further action that Secured Party may reasonably request, in 
order to perfect and protect any security interest granted or purported to be 
granted hereby or to enable Secured Party to exercise and enforce its rights 
and remedies hereunder with respect to any Pledged Collateral.

         SECTION 5.  VOTING RIGHTS; DISTRIBUTIONS; ETC.  

         (a)  So long as no Event of Default shall have occurred and be 
continuing 

               (i)  Pledgor shall be entitled to exercise any and all voting and
         other consensual rights and powers relating or pertaining to the 
         Pledged Collateral or any part thereof for any purpose not 
         inconsistent with the terms of this Agreement; and

              (ii)  Pledgor shall be entitled to recognize on its accounts all
         accrued but unpaid profits of the Company in respect of the Pledged 
         Interest; and

             (iii)  any and all interim or annual distributions in respect of
         the Pledged Interest, other than the tax distributions referred to 
         in paragraph 5(b) below, which are actually paid to Pledgor after 
         the date hereof and prior to the satisfaction of the Secured 
         Obligations hereunder, shall be used by Pledgor to prepay, in an 
         amount equal to such distribution (the "Distribution") amounts 
         outstanding under the Note; and

              (iv)  any and all liquidating distributions made on or in respect
         of the Pledged Collateral, whether resulting from a subdivision, 
         combination or reclassification of the outstanding interests of any 
         issuer thereof or received in exchange for such Pledged Collateral 
         or any part thereof or as a result of any merger, consolidation, 
         acquisition or other exchange of assets to which any such issuer may 
         be a party or otherwise, and any and all cash and other property 
         received in payment of the principal of or in redemption of or in 
         exchange for any Pledged Collateral (either at maturity, upon call 
         for redemption or otherwise), shall be and become part of the 
         Pledged Collateral and, if received by the Pledgor, shall be held in 
         trust for the benefit of the Secured Party and shall forthwith be 
         delivered to the Secured Party or its designated agent (accompanied 
         by property instruments of assignment and/or stock and/or bond 
         powers executed by such in accordance with the Secured Party's 
         instructions) to be held subject to the terms of this Pledge 
         Agreement. 


<PAGE>

         (b)  Upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of 
Default, upon written notice from Secured Party to Pledgor, all rights of 
Pledgor to exercise the voting and other consensual rights which it would 
otherwise be entitled to exercise pursuant to Section 5(a)(i) shall cease, 
and all such rights (so long as an Event of Default is continuing) shall 
thereupon become vested in Secured Party who shall thereupon have the sole 
right to exercise such voting and other consensual rights.  For the avoidance 
of doubt, the parties acknowledge that if, as a result of an Event of 
Default, Secured Party is entitled to exercise its remedies as provided 
hereunder with respect to the Pledged Interest, such remedies shall include 
the right to receive all profits with respect to the Pledged Interest that 
have accrued from the date of this Agreement through the date of any such 
Event of Default that remain undistributed as of such date. Anything 
contained herein to the contrary notwithstanding, Secured Party shall pay tax 
distributions to its members, including the Pledgor, pursuant to Section 7.5 
of the Operating Agreement even in periods during which Events of Default are 
continuing, and the Pledgor shall be entitled to retain such tax 
distributions to the extent necessary to allow Pledgor to satisfy its tax 
liabilities in respect of its interest in the Company.

         SECTION 6.  SECURED PARTY APPOINTED ATTORNEY-IN-FACT.  Pledgor 
hereby irrevocably appoints Secured Party as Pledgor's attorney-in-fact, with 
full authority in the place and stead of Pledgor and in the name of Pledgor 
or otherwise, from time to time in Secured Party's discretion during any 
period in which an Event of Default is continuing, to take any action and to 
execute any instrument which Secured Party deems reasonably necessary or 
advisable to accomplish the purpose of this Agreement which appointment is, 
irrevocable and coupled with an interest.

         SECTION 7.  SECURED PARTY MAY PERFORM.  If Pledgor fails to perform 
any agreement contained herein, Secured Party may itself perform, or cause 
performance of, such agreement or obligation, and the reasonable expenses of 
Secured Party incurred in connection therewith shall be payable by Pledgor.

         SECTION 8.  STANDARD OF CARE.  Secured Party shall exercise 
reasonable care in the custody of any of the Pledged Collateral in its 
possession or control and shall be deemed to have exercised such reasonable 
care if such Pledged Collateral is accorded treatment substantially equal to 
that which Secured Party accords its own property or if Secured Party takes 
such action with respect to the Pledged Collateral as Pledgor shall 
reasonably request in writing (which action Secured Party shall endeavor to 
take if it determines, in its sole discretion, that such action will not 
adversely affect the value as collateral of the Pledged Collateral and such 
request is received by Secured Party in time), but no failure to comply with 
any such request, nor any omission to do any such act requested by the 
undersigned, shall be deemed a failure to exercise reasonable care, nor shall 
any failure of Secured Party to take necessary steps to preserve rights 
against any parties with respect to any of the Pledged Collateral in its 
possession or control be deemed a failure to exercise reasonable care.

         SECTION 9.  EVENTS OF DEFAULT.  The occurrence of any of the 
following events shall constitute an "Event of Default":


<PAGE>

         (a)  Failure of Pledgor to pay any principal or interest under the 
Note when due, whether at stated maturity, required prepayment, acceleration 
or otherwise; or 

         (b)  Failure of Pledgor to perform or observe any material term, 
covenant or agreement contained in this Pledge Agreement or the Note and such 
failure is not cured within 60 days after written notice thereof from Secured 
Party.

         SECTION 10.  REMEDIES.  If any Event of Default shall have occurred 
and be continuing, following the expiration of any applicable cure period, 
the Pledgor shall forfeit its Pledged Collateral in consideration of the 
extinguishment of the Pledgor's debt to the Company and the Pledged Interest 
shall be allocated to each Member of the Company pro rata according to such 
Member's Percentage Interest in the Company (as each such capitalized term is 
defined in the Operating Agreement).  Upon such forfeiture, the Note shall be 
fully discharged, and Pledgor shall have no further obligation or liability 
to Secured Party or otherwise in respect of the Note or this Pledge Agreement.

         SECTION 11.  APPLICATION OF PROCEEDS.  Except as expressly provided 
elsewhere in this Agreement, all proceeds received by Secured Party in 
respect of any sale of, collection from, or other realization upon all or any 
part of the Pledged Collateral pursuant to Section 10(b) or (d) hereof may, 
in the discretion of Secured Party, be held by Secured Party as Pledged 
Collateral for, and/or then, or at any time thereafter, applied in full or in 
part by Secured Party against, the Secured Obligations in the following order 
of priority:

         FIRST:  To the payment of all reasonable costs and expenses of such
    sale, collection or other realization and all amounts for which Secured
    Party is entitled to indemnification hereunder, and to the payment of all
    reasonable costs and expenses paid or incurred by Secured Party in
    connection with the exercise of any right or remedy hereunder, all in
    accordance with Section 12;

         SECOND:  To the payment of all of the Secured Obligations; and

         THIRD:  To the payment to or upon the order of Pledgor, or to
    whosoever may be lawfully entitled to receive the same or as a court of
    competent jurisdiction may direct, of any surplus then remaining from such
    proceeds.  

         SECTION 12.  INDEMNITY AND EXPENSES.  Pledgor agrees to reimburse 
the Secured Party, on demand, for all costs and expenses incurred by the 
Secured Party in enforcing this Pledge Agreement (including the reasonable 
fees and expenses of its agents and counsel), to the extent such costs and 
expenses result from the breach of any warranty or covenant hereunder by the 
Pledgor. Pledgor agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Secured Party from 
and against any and all liability incurred by the Secured Party in good faith 
hereunder (as a result of such breach or misrepresentation) other than any 
liability arising as a result of the Secured Party's negligence, recklessness 
or willful misconduct.


<PAGE>

         SECTION 13.  CONTINUING SECURITY INTEREST.  This Agreement shall 
create a continuing security interest in the Pledged Collateral and shall (a) 
remain in full force and effect until the payment in full of all Secured 
Obligations, (b) be binding upon Pledgor, its successors and assigns, and (c) 
inure, together with the rights and remedies of Secured Party hereunder, to 
the benefit of Secured Party and its successors, transferees and assigns.  
Upon the payment in full of all Secured Obligations, the security interest 
granted hereby shall terminate and all rights to the Pledged Collateral shall 
revert to Pledgor.  Upon any such termination Secured Party will, at 
Pledgor's expense, execute and deliver to Pledgor such documents as Pledgor 
shall reasonably request to evidence such termination and Pledgor shall be 
entitled to the return, upon its request and at its expense, against receipt 
and without recourse to Secured Party, of such of the Pledged Collateral as 
shall not have been sold or otherwise applied pursuant to the terms hereof.  

         SECTION 14.  NO RECOURSE.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary 
in this Agreement, no recourse shall be had, whether by levy or execution, or 
under any law, or by the enforcement of any assessment or penalty or 
otherwise, for the payment of any of the Secured Obligations, against Pledgor 
individually or personally, or any successor, assign or affiliate of Pledgor, 
or any of the assets of the aforesaid persons, it being expressly understood 
that the sole remedies available to Secured Party pursuant to this Agreement 
with respect to the Secured Obligations shall be against the Pledged 
Collateral.  In an Event of Default, the Secured Party shall look for payment 
solely to the Pledged Collateral and will not make any claim or institute any 
action or proceeding against the Pledgor (or its successors or assigns of 
affiliates) for payment of the Secured Obligations (or for any deficiency 
remaining after application of the Pledged Collateral).  Nothing contained 
herein, however, shall be construed to release or impair the lien upon the 
Pledged Collateral, or preclude the application of the Pledged Collateral to 
the payment of the Secured Obligations in accordance with the terms of this 
Pledge Agreement.

         SECTION 15.  AMENDMENTS; ETC.  No amendment, modification, 
termination or waiver of any provision of this Agreement, and no consent to 
any departure by Pledgor therefrom, shall in any event be effective unless 
the same shall be in writing and signed by Secured Party and, in the case of 
any such amendment or modification, by Pledgor.  Any such waiver or consent 
shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the specific purpose 
for which it was given.

         SECTION 16.  NOTICES.  Any notice or other communication herein 
required or permitted to be given shall be in writing and may be personally 
served, telexed or sent by telecopy or United States mail or courier service 
and shall be deemed to have been given when delivered in person or by courier 
service, upon receipt of telecopy or telex, or three Business Days after 
depositing it in the United States mail with postage prepaid and properly 
addressed.  For the purposes hereof, the address of each party hereto shall 
be as set forth below or, as to either party, such other address as shall be 
designated by such party in a written notice delivered to the other party 
hereto:


<PAGE>

         If to Pledgor:

         Acacia Research Corporation
         c/o Mr. Paul R. Ryan
         12 South Raymond Avenue
         Pasadena, California  91105

         If to Secured Party:

         Greenwich Information Technologies LLC
         c/o Mr. H. Lee Browne
         Two Soundview Drive
         Greenwich, Connecticut  06830

         SECTION 17.  FAILURE OR INDULGENCE NOT WAIVER; REMEDIES CUMULATIVE. 
No failure or delay on the part of Secured Party in the exercise of any 
power, right or privilege hereunder shall impair such power, right or 
privilege or be construed to be a waiver of any default or acquiescence 
therein, nor shall any single or partial exercise of any such power, right or 
privilege preclude any other or further exercise thereof or of any other 
power, right or privilege. All rights and remedies existing under this 
Agreement are cumulative to, and not exclusive of, any rights or remedies 
otherwise available.

         SECTION 18.  SEVERABILITY.  In case any provision in or obligation 
under this Agreement shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any 
jurisdiction, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining 
provisions or obligations, or of such provision or obligation in any other 
jurisdiction, shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.

         SECTION 19.  HEADINGS.  Section and subsection headings in this 
Agreement are included herein for convenience of reference only and shall not 
constitute a part of this Agreement for any other purpose or be given any 
substantive effect.

         SECTION 20.  GOVERNING LAW; TERMS.  THIS AGREEMENT AND THE RIGHTS 
AND OBLIGATIONS OF THE PARTIES HEREUNDER SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND SHALL BE 
CONSTRUED AND ENFORCED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE INTERNAL LAWS OF THE STATE OF 
CALIFORNIA, WITHOUT REGARD TO CONFLICTS OF LAWS PRINCIPLES, EXCEPT TO THE 
EXTENT THAT THE UNIFORM COMMERCIAL CODE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA PROVIDES 
THAT THE VALIDITY OR PERFECTION OF THE SECURITY INTEREST HEREUNDER, OR 
REMEDIES HEREUNDER, IN RESPECT OF ANY PARTICULAR PLEDGED COLLATERAL ARE 
GOVERNED BY THE LAWS OF A JURISDICTION OTHER THAN THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA.  
Unless otherwise defined herein or in the Note, terms used in Articles 8 and 
9 of such Code are used herein as therein defined.

         SECTION 21.  COUNTERPARTS.  This Agreement may be executed in one or 
more counterparts and by different parties hereto in separate counterparts, 
each of which when so executed and delivered shall be deemed an original, but 
all such counterparts together shall constitute but one and the same 
instrument; signature pages may be detached from multiple separate 
counterparts and


<PAGE>

attached to a single counterpart so that all signature pages are physically 
attached to the same document.


                 [REMAINDER OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK]


<PAGE>

          IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Pledgor and Secured Party have caused this
Agreement to be duly executed and delivered by their respective officers
thereunto duly authorized as of the date first written above.  

 
                                     ACACIA RESEARCH CORPORATION, as Pledgor


                                          /s/  Paul R. Ryan
                                     ------------------------------------------
                                     By:  Paul R. Ryan
                                     Its: President and Chief Executive Officer


                                     GREENWICH INFORMATION 
                                     TECHNOLOGIES LLC, as Secured Party


                                          /s/ H. Lee Browne
                                     ------------------------------------------
                                     By:  H. Lee Browne
                                     Its: Chief Executive Officer


Approved and consented to by the
Senior Members of Greenwich
Information Technologies LLC:

H. LEE BROWNE, as Senior Member


/s/  H. Lee Browne
-----------------------------------------

ACACIA RESEARCH CORPORATION, as 
  Senior Member


/s/  Paul R. Ryan
------------------------------------------
By:  Paul R. Ryan
Its: President and Chief Executive Officer



















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