-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 INXz/IznDK+6869CSLAGKrfqULiSpx+8z14fHTQ4sc4s1wMRLulT8FFFvWJ4Q/1C
 qeB25sc66shvKybFD1DItw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001181431-09-012275.txt : 20090227
<SEC-HEADER>0001181431-09-012275.hdr.sgml : 20090227
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20090227193559
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001181431-09-012275
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20090227
FILED AS OF DATE:		20090227
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20090227

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			JOSEPH AL S
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001269948

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-50460
		FILM NUMBER:		09645042

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		301 W EL CAMINO WAY
		CITY:			PALM SPRINGS
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			92264

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			TESSERA TECHNOLOGIES INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001261694
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SEMICONDUCTORS & RELATED DEVICES [3674]
		IRS NUMBER:				161620029
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		3099 ORCHARD DRIVE
		CITY:			SAN JOSE
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			95134
		BUSINESS PHONE:		4088940700

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		3099 ORCHARD DRIVE
		CITY:			SAN JOSE
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			95134
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>rrd235712.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2009-02-27</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001261694</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>TESSERA TECHNOLOGIES INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>TSRA</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001269948</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>JOSEPH AL S</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>301 WEST EL CAMINO WAY</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>PALM SPRINGS</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>92264</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2009-02-27</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>3750</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>11.06</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>36250</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>See Footnote</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">An aggregate of 21,250 shares are held by The Joseph Family Trust dated 12/20/1999.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Al S. Joseph</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2009-02-27</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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