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                                                                EXHIBIT 5.1

              [COOLEY GODWARD CASTRO HUDDLESON & TATUM LETTERHEAD]

June 20, 1996

JTS Corporation
166 Baypoint Parkway
San Jose, CA 95134

Ladies and Gentlemen:

You have requested our opinion with respect to certain matters in connection
with the filing on June 20, 1996 by JTS Corporation (the "Company") of a
Registration Statement on Form S-4 (the "Registration Statement") with the
Securities and Exchange Commission, with respect to the offer and sale of
63,727,318 shares of the Company's Common Stock, $.001 par value (the "Common
Stock") in connection with the merger of Atari Corporation ("Atari") with and
into the Company as set forth in the Agreement and Plan of Reorganization, by
and among the Company and Atari, dated as of April 8, 1996 (the "Merger
Agreement"). 

In connection with this opinion, we have examined and relied upon the
Registration Statement; the Company's Certificate of Incorporation, as amended,
and Bylaws, the Merger Agreement and the originals or copies certified to our
satisfaction of such records, documents, certificates, memoranda and other
instruments as in our judgment are necessary or appropriate to enable us to
render the opinion expressed below.

On the basis of the foregoing, and in reliance thereon, we are of the opinion
that the shares of Common Stock, when sold and issued in accordance with the
terms of the Registration Statement and Related Prospectus (including the
filing by the Company of its Restated Certificate of Incorporation) will be
validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable. 

We consent to the reference to our firm under the caption "Legal Matters" in
the Registration Statement and to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to
the Registration Statement.


Very truly yours,


COOLEY GODWARD CASTRO
HUDDLESON & TATUM




By: /s/  Andrei M. Manoliu
       _____________________
         Andrei M. Manoliu