-----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,
 N2PnClChfxsv55P8kq+bEhDfGUteQgKbKJo5uvre6sPglqzGyERj1dNVT1cCWsdb
 CeAkEmbokcLKUHoAV4wmAg==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000947871-10-000809.txt : 20100802
<SEC-HEADER>0000947871-10-000809.hdr.sgml : 20100802
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20100802141130
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000947871-10-000809
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20100729
FILED AS OF DATE:		20100802
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20100802

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Ross Jeffrey G
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001301527

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-16493
		FILM NUMBER:		10983674

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ONE SYBASE DRIVE
		CITY:			DUBLIN
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94568

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			SYBASE INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000768262
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SERVICES-PREPACKAGED SOFTWARE [7372]
		IRS NUMBER:				942951005
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ONE SYBASE DRIVE
		CITY:			DUBLIN
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94568
		BUSINESS PHONE:		9252365000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ONE SYBASE DRIVE
		CITY:			DUBLIN
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94568
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>ss97308_4-ross.xml
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2010-07-29</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>1</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000768262</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>SYBASE INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>SY</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001301527</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Ross Jeffrey G</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>ONE SYBASE DRIVE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>DUBLIN</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>94568-7902</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>SVP and Chief Fin Officer A02</officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <remarks>* Jeffrey Ross ceased to be an Officer as of July 29, 2010.</remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Julie Loosli, Attorney-in-Fact For: Jeffrey G Ross</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2010-08-02</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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