-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 I7/carD4+6xLV8RMQXXZHiLOAlAWSsocC/jWvWAulOGc3BsLqQStvZ/hk8GYVpJV
 YgmXoE2HlDN5aarYc5mkOQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001181431-03-024594.txt : 20030926
<SEC-HEADER>0001181431-03-024594.hdr.sgml : 20030926
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030926211659
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001181431-03-024594
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030925
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030926

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			STERLING MARCIA K
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001221156

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-14338
		FILM NUMBER:		03913587

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O AUTODESK INC
		STREET 2:		111 MCINNIS PARKWAY
		CITY:			SAN RAFAEL
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94903

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			AUTODESK INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000769397
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SERVICES-PREPACKAGED SOFTWARE [7372]
		IRS NUMBER:				942819853
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0131

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		111 MCINNIS PKWY
		CITY:			SAN RAFAEL
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94903
		BUSINESS PHONE:		4155075000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		111 MCINNIS PKWY
		CITY:			SAN RAFAEL
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94903
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>rrd19273.xml
<DESCRIPTION>STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?><ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-09-25</periodOfReport><notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000769397</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>AUTODESK INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>ADSK</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001221156</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>STERLING MARCIA K</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>111 MCINNIS PARKWAY</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SAN RAFAEL</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>94903</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>0</isDirector><isOfficer>1</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle>Sr. VP Gen. Counsel, Secretary</officerTitle></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><derivativeTable><derivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Non-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy)</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>17.45</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-09-25</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>40000</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>0</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><value>2004-09-25</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2013-09-25</value></expirationDate>
<underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>40000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>40000</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeTransaction></derivativeTable><footnotes><footnote id="F1">The option will vest in four equal annual installments beginning on September 25, 2004.</footnote></footnotes><ownerSignature><signatureName>Kent Heinzman, Attorney-in-fact for Marcia K. Sterling</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-09-26</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>



</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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