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EXHIBIT 5.1
WILSON SONSINI GOODRICH & ROSATI
650 PAGE MILL ROAD
PALO ALTO, CA 94304
(650) 493-9300
October 16, 2000
Sun Microsystems, Inc.
901 San Antonio Road
Palo Alto, CA 94303
Re: Registration Statement on Form S-8
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We have acted as counsel to Sun Microsystems, Inc., a Delaware
corporation (the "Company" or "You") and have examined the Registration
Statement on Form S-8 (the "Registration Statement") to be filed by the Company
with the Securities and Exchange Commission on or about October 16, 2000 in
connection with the registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,
of 200,000 additional shares of your Common Stock, par value $0.00067 per share
(the "Shares"), reserved for issuance under the Equity Compensation Acquisition
Plan (the "Plan").
As your legal counsel, we have examined the proceedings taken and are
familiar with the proceedings to be taken in connection with the sale and
issuance of said Shares under the Plan. It is our opinion that the additional
Shares, when issued and sold in the manner referred to in the Plan and pursuant
to the agreements which accompany the Plan, the Shares will be legally and
validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.
We consent to the use of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration
Statement and further consent to the use of our name wherever appearing in the
Registration Statement and any amendments thereto.
Sincerely,
WILSON SONSINI GOODRICH & ROSATI
Professional Corporation
/s/ WILSON SONSINI GOODRICH & ROSATI
