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                                                                     EXHIBIT 4.1

                             SUN MICROSYSTEMS, INC.
                      EQUITY COMPENSATION ACQUISITION PLAN
                        (AMENDED AS OF FEBRUARY 14, 2001)


        1.  Purposes of the Plan. The purposes of this Stock Plan are:

               -      to attract and retain the best available personnel for
                      positions of substantial responsibility,

               -      to provide additional incentive to eligible Employees and
                      Consultants, and

               -      to promote the success of the Company's business.

Nonstatutory Stock Options and Stock Purchase Rights may be granted under the
Plan.

        2.  Definitions. As used herein, the following definitions shall apply:

            (a) "Administrator" means the Board or any of its Committees as
shall be administering the Plan, in accordance with Section 4 of the Plan.

            (b) "Applicable Laws" means the legal requirements relating to the
administration of stock option plans under U. S. state corporate laws, U.S.
federal and state securities laws, the Code and the applicable laws of any
foreign country or jurisdiction where Options or Stock Purchase Rights are, or
will be, granted under the Plan.

            (c) "Board" means the Board of Directors of the Company.

            (d) "Code" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

            (e) "Committee" means a Committee appointed by the Board in
accordance with Section 4 of the Plan.

            (f) "Common Stock" means the Common Stock of the Company.

            (g) "Company" means Sun Microsystems, Inc., and any entity that is
directly or indirectly controlled by the Company, or any entity in which the
Company has a significant equity interest, as determined by the Administrator.

            (h) "Consultant" means any person, including an advisor, engaged by
the Company to render services and who is compensated for such services,
provided that the term "Consultant" shall not include any person who is also an
officer or Director of Sun Microsystems, Inc.

            (i) "Director" means a member of the Board.

            (j) "Disability" means total and permanent disability as defined in
Section 22(e)(3) of the Code.


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            (k) "Employee" means any person employed by the Company other than
any person who is an officer or Director of Sun Microsystems, Inc.

            (l) "Fair Market Value" means, as of any date, the value of Common
Stock determined as follows:

                (i) the last reported sale price of the Common Stock of the
Company on the NASDAQ National Market System or, if no such reported sale takes
place on any such day, the average of the closing bid and asked prices, or

                (ii) if such Common Stock shall then be listed on a national
securities exchange, the last reported sale price or, if no such reported sale
takes place on any such day, the average of the closing bid and asked prices on
the principal national securities exchange on which the Common Stock is listed
or admitted to trading, or

                (iii) if such Common Stock shall not be quoted on such National
Market System nor listed or admitted to trading on a national securities
exchange, then the average of the closing bid and asked prices, as reported by
The Wall Street Journal for the over-the-counter market, or

                (iv) if none of the foregoing is applicable, then the Fair
Market Value of a share of Common Stock shall be determined by the Board in its
discretion.

            (m) "Nonstatutory Stock Option" means an Option not intended to
qualify as an incentive stock option within the meaning of Section 422 of the
Code and the regulations promulgated thereunder.

            (n) "Notice of Grant" means a written notice evidencing certain
terms and conditions of an individual Option or Stock Purchase Right grant. The
Notice of Grant is part of the Option Agreement or of the Restricted Stock
Purchase Agreement.

            (o) "Option" means a stock option granted pursuant to the Plan.

            (p) "Option Agreement" means a written agreement between the Company
and an Optionee evidencing the terms and conditions of an individual Option
grant. The Option Agreement is subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan.

            (q) "Optioned Stock" means the Common Stock subject to an Option or
Stock Purchase Right.

            (r) "Optionee" means an Employee or Consultant who holds an
outstanding Option or Stock Purchase Right.

            (s) "Plan" means this Equity Compensation Acquisition Plan.

            (t) "Restricted Stock" means shares of Common Stock acquired
pursuant to a grant of Stock Purchase Rights under Section 11 below.

            (u) "Restricted Stock Purchase Agreement" means a written agreement
between

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the Company and the Optionee evidencing the terms and restrictions applying to
stock purchased under a Stock Purchase Right. The Restricted Stock Purchase
Agreement is subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan and the Notice of
Grant.

            (v) "Share" means a share of the Common Stock, as adjusted in
accordance with Section 13 of the Plan.

            (w) "Stock Purchase Right" means the right to purchase Common Stock
pursuant to Section 11 of the Plan, as evidenced by a Notice of Grant.

        3. Stock Subject to the Plan. Subject to the provisions of Section 13 of
the Plan, the maximum aggregate number of Shares which may be optioned and sold
under the Plan is 39,360,000 Shares. The Shares may be authorized, but unissued,
or reacquired Common Stock.

            If an Option or Stock Purchase Right expires or becomes
unexercisable without having been exercised in full, the unpurchased Shares
which were subject thereto shall become available for future grant or sale under
the Plan (unless the Plan has terminated). In addition, if Shares of Restricted
Stock are repurchased by the Company at their original purchase price, such
Shares shall become available for future grant under the Plan.

        4. Administration of the Plan.

            (a) Administration. The Plan shall be administered by (i) the Board
or (ii) a Committee designated by the Board, which Committee shall be
constituted to satisfy Applicable Laws. Once appointed, such Committee shall
serve in its designated capacity until otherwise directed by the Board. The
Board may increase the size of the Committee and appoint additional members,
remove members (with or without cause) and substitute new members, fill
vacancies (however caused), and remove all members of the Committee and
thereafter directly administer the Plan, all to the extent permitted by
Applicable Laws.

            (b) Powers of the Administrator. Subject to the provisions of the
Plan, and in the case of a Committee, subject to the specific duties delegated
by the Board to such Committee, the Administrator shall have the authority, in
its discretion:

                (i) to determine the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock, in
accordance with Section 2(l) of the Plan;

                (ii) to select the Consultants and Employees to whom Options and
Stock Purchase Rights may be granted hereunder;

                (iii) to determine whether and to what extent Options and Stock
Purchase Rights or any combination thereof, are granted hereunder;

                (iv) to determine the number of shares of Common Stock to be
covered by each Option and Stock Purchase Right granted hereunder;

                (v) to approve forms of agreement for use under the Plan;


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                (vi) to determine the terms and conditions, not inconsistent
with the terms of the Plan, of any award granted hereunder. Such terms and
conditions include, but are not limited to, the exercise price, the time or
times when Options or Stock Purchase Rights may be exercised (which may be based
on performance criteria), any vesting acceleration or waiver of forfeiture
restrictions, and any restriction or limitation regarding any Option or Stock
Purchase Right or the shares of Common Stock relating thereto, based in each
case on such factors as the Administrator, in its sole discretion, shall
determine;

                (vii) to construe and interpret the terms of the Plan and awards
granted pursuant to the Plan;

                (viii) to prescribe, amend and rescind rules and regulations
relating to the Plan, including rules and regulations relating to sub-plans
established for the purpose of qualifying for preferred tax treatment under
foreign tax laws;

                (ix) to modify or amend each Option or Stock Purchase Right
(subject to Section 15(b) of the Plan), including the discretionary authority to
extend the post-termination exercisability period of Options;

                (x) to authorize any person to execute on behalf of the Company
any instrument required to effect the grant of an Option or Stock Purchase Right
previously granted by the Administrator;

                (xi) to make all other determinations deemed necessary or
advisable for administering the Plan.

            (c) Effect of Administrator's Decision. The Administrator's
decisions, determinations and interpretations shall be final and binding on all
Optionees and any other holders of Options or Stock Purchase Rights.

        5. Eligibility. Nonstatutory Stock Options and Stock Purchase Rights may
be granted to Employees and Consultants. If otherwise eligible, an Employee or
Consultant who has been granted an Option or Stock Purchase Right may be granted
additional Options or Stock Purchase Rights. Notwithstanding anything to the
contrary contained in the Plan, Option and Stock Purchase Rights may not be
granted to officers or Directors under this Plan.

        6. Limitations. Neither the Plan nor any Option or Stock Purchase Right
shall confer upon an Optionee any right with respect to continuing the
Optionee's employment or consulting relationship with the Company, nor shall
they interfere in any way with the Optionee's right or the Company's right to
terminate such employment or consulting relationship at any time, with or
without cause.

        7. Term of Plan. The Plan shall become effective upon its adoption by
the Board. It shall continue in effect until terminated under Section 15 of the
Plan.

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        8. Term of Option. The term of each Option shall be stated in the Notice
of Grant.

        9. Option Exercise Price and Consideration.

            (a) Exercise Price. The per share exercise price for the Shares to
be issued pursuant to exercise of an Option shall be determined by the
Administrator.

            (b) Waiting Period and Exercise Dates. At the time an Option is
granted, the Administrator shall fix the period within which the Option may be
exercised and shall determine any conditions which must be satisfied before the
Option may be exercised.

            (c) Form of Consideration. The Administrator shall determine the
acceptable form of consideration for exercising an Option, including the method
of payment. Such consideration may consist entirely of:

                (i) cash;

                (ii) check;

                (iii) promissory note;

                (iv) other Shares which (A) in the case of Shares acquired upon
exercise of an option, have been owned by the Optionee for more than six months
on the date of surrender, and (B) have a Fair Market Value on the date of
surrender equal to the aggregate exercise price of the Shares as to which said
Option shall be exercised;

                (v) delivery of a properly executed exercise notice together
with such other documentation as the Administrator and the broker, if
applicable, shall require to effect an exercise of the Option and delivery to
the Company of the sale or loan proceeds required to pay the exercise price;

                (vi) a reduction in the amount of any Company liability to the
Optionee, including any liability attributable to the Optionee's participation
in any Company-sponsored deferred compensation program or arrangement;

                (vii) such other consideration and method of payment for the
issuance of Shares to the extent permitted by Applicable Laws; or

                (viii) any combination of the foregoing methods of payment.

        10. Exercise of Option.

            (a) Procedure for Exercise; Rights as a Shareholder. Any Option
granted hereunder shall be exercisable according to the terms of the Plan and at
such times and under such conditions as determined by the Administrator and set
forth in the Option Agreement.

            An Option may not be exercised for a fraction of a Share.

            An Option shall be deemed exercised when the Company receives: (i)
written notice of exercise (in accordance with the Option Agreement) from the
person entitled to exercise the Option, and (ii) full payment for the Shares
with respect to which the Option is exercised.

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Full payment may consist of any consideration and method of payment authorized
by the Administrator and permitted by the Option Agreement and the Plan. Shares
issued upon exercise of an Option shall be issued in the name of the Optionee
or, if requested by the Optionee, in the name of the Optionee and his or her
spouse. Until the stock certificate evidencing such Shares is issued (as
evidenced by the appropriate entry on the books of the Company or of a duly
authorized transfer agent of the Company), no right to vote or receive dividends
or any other rights as a shareholder shall exist with respect to the Optioned
Stock, notwithstanding the exercise of the Option. The Company shall issue (or
cause to be issued) such stock certificate promptly after the Option is
exercised. No adjustment will be made for a dividend or other right for which
the record date is prior to the date the stock certificate is issued, except as
provided in Section 13 of the Plan.

            Exercising an Option in any manner shall decrease the number of
Shares thereafter available, both for purposes of the Plan and for sale under
the Option, by the number of Shares as to which the Option is exercised.

            (b) Termination of Employment. Upon termination of an Optionee's
status as an Employee or Consultant (other than as a result of the Optionee's
death or Disability), the Optionee may exercise his or her Option, but only
within such period of time from the date of such termination as is determined by
the Administrator and, unless determined otherwise by the Administrator, only to
the extent that the Optionee was entitled to exercise it at the date of such
termination (but in no event later than the expiration of the term of such
Option as set forth in the Option Agreement). To the extent that Optionee was
not entitled to exercise an Option at the date of such termination, and to the
extent that the Optionee does not exercise such Option (to the extent otherwise
so entitled) within the time specified herein, the Option shall terminate, and
the Shares covered by such Option shall revert to the Plan.

            Notwithstanding the above, in the event of an Optionee's change in
status from Consultant to Employee or Employee to Consultant, the Optionee's
status as an Employee or Consultant shall not automatically terminate solely as
a result of such change in status.

            (c) Disability of Optionee. Upon termination of an Optionee's status
as an Employee or Consultant as a result of the Optionee's Disability, the
Optionee may exercise his or her Option, but only within six (6) months or such
time period as the Administrator shall specify from the date of such
termination, and, unless determined otherwise by the Administrator, only to the
extent that the Optionee was entitled to exercise it at the date of such
termination (but in no event later than the expiration of the term of such
Option as set forth in the Option Agreement). To the extent that Optionee was
not entitled to exercise an Option at the date of such termination, and to the
extent that the Optionee does not exercise such Option (to the extent

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otherwise so entitled) within the time specified herein, the Option shall
terminate, and the Shares covered by such Option shall revert to the Plan.

            (d) Death of Optionee. In the event of an Optionee's death, the
Optionee's estate or a person who acquired the right to exercise the deceased
Optionee's Option by bequest or inheritance may exercise the Option, but only
within six (6) months or such time period as the Administrator shall specify
following the date of death, and, unless determined otherwise by the
Administrator, only to the extent that the Optionee was entitled to exercise it
at the date of death (but in no event later than the expiration of the term of
such Option as set forth in the Option Agreement). To the extent that Optionee
was not entitled to exercise an Option at the date of death, and to the extent
that the Optionee's estate or a person who acquired the right to exercise such
Option does not exercise such Option (to the extent otherwise so entitled)
within the time specified herein, the Option shall terminate, and the Shares
covered by such Option shall revert to the Plan.

        11. Stock Purchase Rights.

            (a) Rights to Purchase. Stock Purchase Rights may be issued either
alone, in addition to, or in tandem with other awards granted under the Plan
and/or cash awards made outside of the Plan. After the Administrator determines
that it will offer Stock Purchase Rights under the Plan, it shall advise the
offeree in writing, by means of a Notice of Grant, of the terms, conditions and
restrictions related to the offer, including the number of Shares that the
offeree shall be entitled to purchase, the price to be paid (which price shall
not be less than the par value of the Company's Common Stock, as adjusted from
time to time, and the minimum price permitted by the Delaware General
Corporation Law), and the time within which the offeree must accept such offer.
The offer shall be accepted by execution of a Restricted Stock Purchase
Agreement in the form determined by the Administrator.

            (b) Repurchase Option. Unless the Administrator determines
otherwise, the Restricted Stock Purchase Agreement shall grant the Company a
repurchase option exercisable upon the voluntary or involuntary termination of
the purchaser's employment with the Company for any reason (including death or
Disability). The purchase price for Shares repurchased pursuant to the
Restricted Stock Purchase Agreement shall be the original price paid by the
purchaser and may be paid by cancellation of any indebtedness of the purchaser
to the Company. The repurchase option shall lapse at a rate determined by the
Administrator.

            (c) Other Provisions. The Restricted Stock Purchase Agreement shall
contain such other terms, provisions and conditions not inconsistent with the
Plan as may be determined by the Administrator in its sole discretion. In
addition, the provisions of Restricted Stock Purchase Agreements need not be the
same with respect to each purchaser.


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            (d) Rights as a Shareholder. Once the Stock Purchase Right is
exercised, the purchaser shall have the rights equivalent to those of a
shareholder, and shall be a shareholder when his or her purchase is entered upon
the records of the duly authorized transfer agent of the Company. No adjustment
will be made for a dividend or other right for which the record date is prior to
the date the Stock Purchase Right is exercised, except as provided in Section 13
of the Plan.

        12. Non-Transferability of Options and Stock Purchase Rights. An Option
or Stock Purchase Right may not be sold, pledged, assigned, hypothecated,
transferred, or disposed of in any manner other than by will or by the laws of
descent or distribution and may be exercised, during the lifetime of the
Optionee, only by the Optionee.

        13. Adjustments Upon Changes in Capitalization, Dissolution, Merger or
Asset Sale.

            (a) Changes in Capitalization. Subject to any required action by the
shareholders of the Company, the number of shares of Common Stock covered by
each outstanding Option and Stock Purchase Right, and the number of shares of
Common Stock which have been authorized for issuance under the Plan but as to
which no Options or Stock Purchase Rights have yet been granted or which have
been returned to the Plan upon cancellation or expiration of an Option or Stock
Purchase Right, as well as the price per share of Common Stock covered by each
such outstanding Option or Stock Purchase Right, shall be proportionately
adjusted for any increase or decrease in the number of issued shares of Common
Stock resulting from a stock split, reverse stock split, stock dividend,
combination or reclassification of the Common Stock, or any other increase or
decrease in the number of issued shares of Common Stock effected without receipt
of consideration by the Company; provided, however, that conversion of any
convertible securities of the Company shall not be deemed to have been "effected
without receipt of consideration." Such adjustment shall be made by the Board,
whose determination in that respect shall be final, binding and conclusive.
Except as expressly provided herein, no issuance by the Company of shares of
stock of any class, or securities convertible into shares of stock of any class,
shall affect, and no adjustment by reason thereof shall be made with respect to,
the number or price of shares of Common Stock subject to an Option or Stock
Purchase Right.

            (b) Dissolution or Liquidation. In the event of the proposed
dissolution or liquidation of the Company, the Administrator shall notify each
Optionee as soon as practicable prior to the effective date of such proposed
transaction. The Administrator in its discretion may provide for an Optionee to
have the right to exercise his or her Option until ten (10) days prior to such
transaction as to all of the Optioned Stock covered thereby, including Shares as
to which the Option would not otherwise be exercisable. In addition, the
Administrator may provide that

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any Company repurchase option applicable to any Shares purchased upon exercise
of an Option shall lapse as to all such Shares, provided the proposed
dissolution or liquidation takes place at the time and in the manner
contemplated. To the extent it has not been previously exercised, an Option will
terminate immediately prior to the consummation of such proposed action.

            (c) Merger or Asset Sale. In the event of a merger of the Company
with or into another corporation, or the sale of substantially all of the assets
of the Company, each outstanding Option and Stock Purchase Right will be assumed
or an equivalent option or right substituted by the successor corporation or a
Parent or Subsidiary of the successor corporation (the "Successor Corporation"),
unless the Successor Corporation refuses to assume or substitute for the Option
or Stock Purchase Right, in which case the Optionee shall have the right to
exercise the Option or Stock Purchase Right as to all of the Optioned Stock,
including Shares as to which it would not otherwise be exercisable. If an Option
or Stock Purchase Right is exercisable in lieu of assumption or substitution in
the event of a merger or sale of assets, the Administrator shall notify the
Optionee that the Option or Stock Purchase Right shall be fully exercisable for
a period of thirty (30) days from the date of such notice, and the Option or
Stock Purchase Right shall terminate upon the expiration of such period. For the
purposes of this paragraph, the Option or Stock Purchase Right shall be
considered assumed if, following the merger or sale of assets, the option or
right confers the right to purchase or receive, for each Share of Optioned Stock
subject to the Option or Stock Purchase Right immediately prior to the merger or
sale of assets, the consideration (whether stock, cash, or other securities or
property) received in the merger or sale of assets by holders of Common Stock
for each Share held on the effective date of the transaction (and if holders
were offered a choice of consideration, the type of consideration chosen by the
holders of a majority of the outstanding Shares); provided, however, that if
such consideration received in the merger or sale of assets was not solely
Common Stock of the Successor Corporation, the Administrator may, with the
consent of the Successor Corporation, provide for the consideration to be
received upon the exercise of the Option or Stock Purchase Right, for each Share
of Optioned Stock subject to the Option or Stock Purchase Right, to be solely
Common Stock of the Successor Corporation equal in fair market value to the per
share consideration received by holders of Common Stock in the merger or sale of
assets.

        14. Date of Grant. The date of grant of an Option or Stock Purchase
Right shall be, for all purposes, the date on which the Administrator makes the
determination granting such Option or Stock Purchase Right, or such other later
date as is determined by the Administrator. Notice of the determination shall be
provided to each Optionee within a reasonable time after the date of such grant.


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        15. Amendment and Termination of the Plan.

            (a) Amendment and Termination. The Board may at any time amend,
alter, suspend or terminate the Plan.

            (b) Effect of Amendment or Termination. No amendment, alteration,
suspension or termination of the Plan shall impair the rights of any Optionee,
unless mutually agreed otherwise between the Optionee and the Administrator,
which agreement must be in writing and signed by the Optionee and the Company.

        16. Conditions Upon Issuance of Shares.

            (a) Legal Compliance. Shares shall not be issued pursuant to the
exercise of an Option or Stock Purchase Right unless the exercise of such Option
or Stock Purchase Right and the issuance and delivery of such Shares shall
comply with all relevant provisions of law, including, without limitation, the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the Exchange Act, the rules and regulations
promulgated thereunder, Applicable Laws, and the requirements of any stock
exchange or quotation system upon which the Shares may then be listed or quoted,
and shall be further subject to the approval of counsel for the Company with
respect to such compliance.

            (b) Investment Representations. As a condition to the exercise of an
Option or Stock Purchase Right, the Company may require the person exercising
such Option or Stock Purchase Right to represent and warrant at the time of any
such exercise that the Shares are being purchased only for investment and
without any present intention to sell or distribute such Shares if, in the
opinion of counsel for the Company, such a representation is required.

        17. Liability of Company. The inability of the Company to obtain
authority from any regulatory body having jurisdiction, which authority is
deemed by the Company's counsel to be necessary to the lawful issuance and sale
of any Shares hereunder, shall relieve the Company of any liability in respect
of the failure to issue or sell such Shares as to which such requisite authority
shall not have been obtained.

        18. Reservation of Shares. The Company, during the term of this Plan,
will at all times reserve and keep available such number of Shares as shall be
sufficient to satisfy the requirements of the Plan.


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