| | EXHIBIT 5.1 | 
| | ----------- | 

Opinion and Consent of Brobeck, Phleger & Harrison LLP

| | May
20, 2002 | 
| | ------------ | 

| | Borland
Software Corporation100 Enterprise Way
Scotts Valley, California  95066-3249 | 
| | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | 

| |  | Re: | Borland
Software Corporation  Registration Statement for Offering of an Aggregate of
3,400,000 Shares of Common Stock | 
| |  | --- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | 

| | Dear
Ladies and Gentlemen: | 
| | -------------------------- | 

| | We
have acted as counsel to Borland Software Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the
Company), in connection with the registration on Form S-8 (the
Registration Statement) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, of: (i)
2,500,000 shares of the Companys common stock reserved for issuance under the
Companys 2002 Stock Incentive Plan (the Incentive Plan) and (ii) an
additional 900,000 shares of the Companys common stock reserved for issuance under
the Companys 1999 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the Purchase Plan). | 
| | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | 

| | This
opinion is being furnished in accordance with the requirements of Item 8 of Form S-8 and
Item 601(b)(5)(i) of Regulation S-K. | 
| | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | 

| | We
have reviewed the Companys charter documents and the corporate proceedings taken by
the Company in connection with the establishment of the Incentive Plan and the amendment
of the Purchase Plan. Based on such review, we are of the opinion that, if, as and when
the shares of the Companys common stock are issued and sold (and the consideration
therefor received) pursuant to the provisions of (a) duly authorized stock option
agreements or duly authorized direct stock issuances under the Incentive Plan and in
accordance with the Registration Statement, or (b) duly authorized stock purchase rights
under the Purchase Plan and in accordance with the Registration Statement, such shares
will be duly authorized, legally issued, fully paid and nonassessable. | 
| | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | 

| | We
consent to the filing of this opinion letter as Exhibit 5.1 to the Registration Statement. | 
| | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | 

| | This
opinion letter is rendered as of the date first written above, and we disclaim any
obligation to advise you of facts, circumstances, events or developments which hereafter
may be brought to our attention and which may alter, affect or modify the opinion
expressed herein. Our opinion is expressly limited to the matters set forth above and we
render no opinion, whether by implication or otherwise, as to any other matters relating
to the Company, the Incentive Plan, the Purchase Plan, or the shares of the Companys
common stock issuable under such plans. | 
| | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | 

| | Very
truly yours, | 
| | ----------------- | 

| | /s/ BROBECK, PHLEGER & HARRISON LLP | 
| | ----------------------------------- | 

| | BROBECK, PHLEGER & HARRISON LLP | 
| | ------------------------------- |