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Exhibit 5.1
OPINION OF McBREEN & KOPKO
August 31, 2000
Sonic Foundry, Inc.
1617 Sherman Avenue
Madison, WI 53704
Re: Sonic Foundry, Inc. Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 to Registration
Statement on Form S-8
Ladies and Gentlemen:
At your request, I have examined the Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 to the
Registration Statement on Form S-8 (the "Registration Statement") which you
intend to file with the Securities and Exchange Commission in connection with
the registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, of 2,420,000
additional shares of common stock, par value $0.01 (the "S-8 Shares"), of Sonic
Foundry, Inc., a Maryland corporation (the "Company"), which are to be offered
and sold by the Company pursuant to the 1995 Stock Option Plan (hereinafter
referred to as the "Plan").
I have examined the Company's Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws; the
Company's minute books; the corporate records in connection with the Plan and
the sale of the S-8 Shares; and such other documents of the Company as I have
considered necessary or appropriate for the purposes of this opinion.
On the basis of such examinations and reviews, I advise you that I am of
the opinion that the S-8 Shares, when offered and sold in the manner provided in
the Prospectus contained in the Registration Statement, will be validly issued,
fully paid and non-assessable.
This opinion is limited solely to matter as of the laws of the State of
Illinois; the general corporation law of the State of Maryland; and the laws of
the United States of America.
We hereby advise you that Frederick H. Kopko, Jr., a partner of this law
firm, is a director of the Company, beneficially owns 183,192 shares of Common
Stock and holds options to purchase an additional 90,000 shares of Common Stock.
We hereby consent to the use of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration
Statement.
Very truly yours,
McBreen & Kopko
By: /s/ McBreen & Kopko
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