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                                                                     EXHIBIT 5.4


                      LUCE, FORWARD, HAMILTON & SCRIPPS LLP
                                  (LETTERHEAD)


                                 March 23, 2001



Board of Directors
PATRIOT SCIENTIFIC CORPORATION
10989 Via Frontera
San Diego, California  92127

        Re:    Registration Statement on Form S-8
               2001 Stock Option Plan

Gentlemen:

We have acted as your counsel in the preparation of a Registration Statement on
Form S-8 (the "Registration Statement") to be filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission to register 3,000,000 shares of common stock, $.0001 par
value per share (the "Common Stock"), of Patriot Scientific Corporation, a
Delaware corporation (the "Company"), to be issued pursuant to the Company's
2001 Stock Option Plan (the "Plan").

For purposes of rendering this opinion, we have made such legal and factual
examinations as we have deemed necessary under the circumstances and, as part of
such examination, we have examined, among other things, originals and copies,
certified or otherwise, identified to our satisfaction, of such documents,
corporate records and other instruments as we have deemed necessary or
appropriate. For the purposes of such examination, we have assumed the
genuineness of all signatures on original documents and the conformity to
original documents of all copies submitted to us.

On the basis of and in reliance upon the foregoing examination and assumptions,
we are of the opinion that assuming the Registration Statement shall have become
effective pursuant to the provisions of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,
the shares of Common Stock being offered under the Plan, when issued in
accordance with the Registration Statement and the provisions of the Plan, will
be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.

We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the
Registration Statement.

Very truly yours,

  /s/ Luce, Forward, Hamilton & Scripps LLP

Luce, Forward, Hamilton & Scripps LLP