Acacia Research Names Amit Kumar, Ph.D. and Rigdon Currie to Its Board of Directors.

Business Editors & Health/High-Tech Writers

NEWPORT BEACH, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 8, 2003

Acacia Research Corporation, which is comprised of the Acacia Technologies group (Nasdaq:ACTG) and the CombiMatrix group (Nasdaq:CBMX), announced today that it has named Amit Kumar, Ph.D. and Rigdon Currie to its Board of Directors.

"Amit Kumar and Rigdon Currie are outstanding additions to our Board of Directors," said Paul R. Ryan, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Acacia Research. "Both have made invaluable contributions to the growth of CombiMatrix and will provide continuity in guiding our CombiMatrix and Acacia Technologies groups."

Dr. Kumar has been Chief Executive Officer and President of CombiMatrix Corporation since September, 2001 and a Director since September 2000. From January 1999 to February 2000, Dr. Kumar was the President and Chief Executive Officer of Signature BioSciences, Inc., a life science company developing technology for advanced research in genomics, proteomics and drug discovery. From January 1998 to December 1999, Dr. Kumar was an Entrepreneur in Residence with Oak Investment Partners, a venture capital firm. From October 1996 to January 1998, Dr. Kumar was a Senior Manager at IDEXX Laboratories, Inc., a biotechnology company. From October 1993 to September 1996, Dr. Kumar was Head of Research & Development for Idetek Corporation, which was later acquired by Idexx Laboratories, Inc. Dr. Kumar received his bachelor's degree in chemistry from Occidental College, and after joint studies at Stanford University and the California Institute of Technology, received his Ph.D. from Caltech. Dr. Kumar also completed a post-doctoral fellowship at Harvard University.

Rigdon Currie has been a Director of CombiMatrix since March 1997. Since July 1999, Mr. Currie has been an independent venture capital consultant. From February 1993 to July 1998, Mr. Currie was a partner of MK Global Ventures, a venture capital limited partnership. Mr. Currie is also a Director of Disc, Inc., a computer software company. Mr. Currie received a B.S.I.E. from the Georgia Institute of Technology and an M.B.A. from Harvard Business School.

About Acacia Research Corporation

Acacia Research Corporation comprises two operating groups. The Acacia Technologies group consists of our media technology business that licenses its V-chip technology to television manufacturers, and owns pioneering Digital Media Transmission ("DMT") technology. DMT technology covers the transmission and receipt of digital audio and digital video content, commonly known as audio on-demand, video on-demand, and audio/video streaming, and is supported by 5 U.S. and 17 international patents.

The CombiMatrix group is developing a platform technology that has a wide range of applications, from DNA synthesis/diagnostics to immunochemical detection. The platform allows the company to rapidly produce customizable active biochips, which are semiconductor-based tools for use in identifying and determining the roles of genes, gene mutations and proteins. The company is designing its products principally to be responsive to the needs of pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and academic researchers in analyzing raw genomic data in the discovery and development of pharmaceutical products. Information about the Acacia Technologies group and Acacia Research Corporation is available at www.acaciaresearch.com. Information about the CombiMatrix group is available at www.combimatrix.com.

Safe Harbor Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995:

This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the "safe harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are based upon our current expectations and speak only as of the date hereof. Our actual results may differ materially and adversely from those expressed in any forward-looking statements as a result of various factors and uncertainties, including the recent economic slowdown affecting technology companies, our ability to successfully develop products, rapid technological change in our markets, changes in demand for our future products, legislative, regulatory and competitive developments and general economic conditions. Our Annual Report on Form 10-K, recent and forthcoming Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, recent Current Reports on Forms 8-K and 8-K/A, and other SEC filings discuss some of the important risk factors that may affect our business, results of operations and financial condition. We undertake no obligation to revise or update publicly any forward-looking statements for any reason.