UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                                    FORM 8-K

                                 CURRENT REPORT
                       Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of
                       The Securities Exchange Act of 1934

       Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): December 16, 2004


                       NATIONAL SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

          DELAWARE                     1-6453           95-2095071 
          --------                     ------           ---------- 
          (State of  Incorporation)    (Commission      (I.R.S.Employer 
                                       File Number)     Identification Number)


                    2900 SEMICONDUCTOR DRIVE, P.O. BOX 58090
                       SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA 95052-8090
                       ----------------------------------
                    (Address of Principal Executive Offices)

                                 (408) 721-5000

              (Registrant's telephone number, including area code)


Check  the  appropriate  box  below  if the  Form  8-K  filing  is  intended  to
simultaneously  satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the
following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):


[ ] Written communication  pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR
    230.425)

[ ] Soliciting  material  pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR
    240.14a-12)

[ ] Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange
    Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b)

[ ] Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange
    Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))





NATIONAL SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION

Table of Contents


                                                                            Page
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Section 8 - Other Events
------------------------

Item 8.01       Other Events                                                3


Signature                                                                   4





NATIONAL SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION

Item 8.01       OTHER EVENTS

In April 2002, ZF Micro  Solutions,  Inc.  brought suit against us in California
Superior  Court  alleging a number of  contract  and tort  claims  related to an
agreement we entered into in 1999 to design and manufacture a custom  integrated
circuit device for ZF Micro Devices. ZF Micro Devices ceased business operations
in February 2002 and the case was brought by ZF Micro  Solutions as successor to
ZF Micro  Devices.  The case began trial in May 2004 and on June 14,  2004,  the
jury  in the  case  found  for ZF  Micro  Solutions  on a claim  on  intentional
misrepresentation, awarding damages of $28.0 million and on a claim of breach of
the implied  covenant of good faith and fair dealing,  awarding  damages of $2.0
million. On seven other claims brought by the plaintiff,  the jury found for us.
The jury also  found  for us on our  breach of  contract  cross-claim,  awarding
damages of $1.1 million.  In response to our challenges to the verdicts in favor
of ZF Micro  Solutions in post-trial  motions,  the court ordered a new trial on
all  issues  and a new trial  date of  February  22,  2005 was set by the court.
During a settlement  conference held December 16, 2004, the case was settled. We
have agreed to pay to the plaintiff  the sum of $20 million,  which must be paid
into an escrow  account no later than  January 5,  2005.  In  addition,  we have
agreed to grant the  plaintiff a royalty  free license for the  manufacture  and
sale of the custom  device at issue in the case.  All claims will be released by
the parties  and the case  dismissed  once the  settlement  documents  have been
completed and the settlement funds released to the plaintiff.





                                   SIGNATURES

Pursuant  to the  requirements  of the  Securities  Exchange  Act of  1934,  the
registrant  has duly  caused  this  report  to be  signed  on its  behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
                                                     
                                        NATIONAL SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION

                                        //S// Robert E.  DeBarr
                                        -----------------------

Dated:  December 17, 2004               Robert E.  DeBarr
                                        Controller
                                        Signing on behalf of the registrant and
                                        as principal accounting officer