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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001056084-03-000032.txt : 20030827
<SEC-HEADER>0001056084-03-000032.hdr.sgml : 20030827
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030827121547
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001056084-03-000032
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030825
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030827

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			TIBCO SOFTWARE INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001085280
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SERVICES-PREPACKAGED SOFTWARE [7372]
		IRS NUMBER:				770449727
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1130

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		3165 PORTER DRIVE
		CITY:			PALO ALTO
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94304
		BUSINESS PHONE:		6508465000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		3165 PORTER DRIVE
		CITY:			PALO ALTO
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94304

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			REUTERS GROUP PLC   /ADR/
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001056084
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	PERIODICALS:  PUBLISHING OR PUBLISHING AND PRINTING [2721]

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-26579
		FILM NUMBER:		03867879

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		85 FLEET STREET
		STREET 2:		7TH FLOOR
		CITY:			LONDON
		STATE:			X0
		ZIP:			EC4P 4AJ
		BUSINESS PHONE:		44 (0) 207 250 1122

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		85 FLEET STREET
		STREET 2:		7TH FLOOR
		CITY:			LONDON
		STATE:			X0
		ZIP:			EC4P 4AJ
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>

<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2003-08-25</periodOfReport>


    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001085280</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>TIBCO SOFTWARE INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>TIBX</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001056084</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>REUTERS GROUP PLC   /ADR/</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>85 FLEET STREET</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>7TH FLOOR</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>LONDON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>X0</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>EC4P 4AJ</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription>UNITED KINGDOM</rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>

        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2003-08-25</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>19000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>5.21</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>103514594</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By Reuters Nederland B.V.</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>

    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The sales reflected in this filing were made to satisfy employee exercises of stock options under a 1997 stock option plan in which Reuters granted options in TIBCO Software Inc. to employees of its TIBCO Finance Technologies Inc. subsidiary (which has been integrated).

Reuters Group PLC continues to beneficially own a core holding of 96,750,000 TIBCO Software shares which are not subject to such options.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">The shares of TIBCO Software Inc. beneficially owned by Reuters Group PLC are held in the name of Reuters Nederland B.V.  Reuters Nederland B.V. is wholly-owned through the following chain of ownership, all of which entities are wholly-owned subsidiaries of Reuters Group PLC:

Reuters Group PLC
Reuters Holdings Limited
Reuters Limited
Reuters Group Overseas Holdings (UK) Limited
Reuters Overseas Holdings BV
Reuters International Holdings Sarl
Reuters Nederland B.V.


Reuters Group PLC has the right to nominate three directors to the Board of Directors of TIBCO Software Inc.; presently, one Reuters officer serves as a TIBCO director.</footnote>
    </footnotes>


    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>By:/s/ Nenette P Bembo, For: Reuters Group PLC</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2003-08-27</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

</ownershipDocument>

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