<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4/A</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2008-04-29</periodOfReport>

    <dateOfOriginalSubmission>2008-05-01</dateOfOriginalSubmission>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001095600</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>BLUE COAT SYSTEMS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>BCSI</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001267021</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>DESIMONE DAVID ANTHONY</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>420 N. MARY AVE.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SUNNYVALE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>94085</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>SVP, Corporate Operations</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-04-29</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>16500</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>50550</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">This amendment clarifies that the restricted stock award is subject to performance vesting.  Up to 100% of the 16,500 shares vest on June 15, 2009, subject to forfeiture if the performance criteria are not achieved in any quarter of fiscal 2009.  The number of shares subject to the award shall be reduced by 4,125 shares for any quarter during fiscal 2009 for which the Compensation Committee determines in its reasonable discretion that the Company has not achieved either (a) its quarterly revenue goals or (b) its quarterly earnings per share goals, with such goals measured as being the minimum amount set forth in the Company's publicly announced guidance for the applicable quarter.  The Company must meet such goals for all fiscal quarters in order for all 16,500 shares to be eligible for vesting and release, and any amount reduced as a result of the failure to meet the performance criteria shall be forfeited.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>By: Tyler W. Purvis  For: David Anthony de Simone</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2008-08-12</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
