<PAGE>

     As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 3, 2001
                             Registration No. 333-
================================================================================
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                                  -------------

                                    FORM S-8
                             REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                      UNDER
                           THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

                                  -------------

                                DOCUMENTUM, INC.
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

        Delaware                                         95-4261421
(State of Incorporation)                    (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

                                  -------------

                            6801 Koll Center Parkway
                        Pleasanton, California 94566-3145

                    (Address of principal executive offices)

                                  -------------

                  Documentum, Inc. Employee Stock Purchase Plan
                     1996 Non-Officer Equity Incentive Plan

                            (Full title of the plans)

                                  -------------

                                  David DeWalt
                       President & Chief Executive Officer
                                Documentum, Inc.
                            6801 Koll Center Parkway
                        Pleasanton, California 94566-3145
                                 (925) 600-6800

            (Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number,
                   including area code, of agent for service)

                                  -------------

                                   Copies to:
                              James F. Fulton, Esq.
                               COOLEY GODWARD LLP
                              Five Palo Alto Square
                               3000 El Camino Real
                        Palo Alto, California 94306-2155
                                 (650) 843-5000

                                  -------------

                         CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
=========================== ========================= ====================== ========================= =======================
                                                         PROPOSED MAXIMUM         PROPOSED MAXIMUM
   TITLE OF SECURITIES       AMOUNT TO BE REGISTERED          OFFERING                AGGREGATE                AMOUNT OF
     TO BE REGISTERED                 (1)               PRICE PER SHARE (2)      OFFERING PRICE (2)        REGISTRATION FEE
--------------------------- ------------------------- ---------------------- ------------------------- -----------------------
 <S>                              <C>                     <C>                       <C>                        <C>
 Stock Options and Common
 Stock (par value $.001)         1,989,930 shares        $8.00 - $59.375          $29,425,435.52             $7,356.36
=========================== ========================= ====================== ========================= =======================
</TABLE>

         (1)      Pursuant to Rule 416(a), this Registration Statement shall
                  also cover any additional shares of the Registrant's Common
                  Stock that become issuable under the plans by reason of any
                  stock dividend, stock split, recapitalization or other similar
                  transaction effected without the receipt of consideration that
                  increases the number of the Registrant's outstanding shares of
                  Common Stock.

<PAGE>

         (2)      Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the amount of
                  the registration fee pursuant to Rule 457(h). The price per
                  share and aggregate offering price (a) for shares issuable
                  under the Registrant's Employee Stock Purchase Plan are based
                  upon 85% of the average of the high and low prices of
                  Registrant's Common Stock on July 30, 2001, as reported on the
                  Nasdaq National Market; (b) for shares issuable pursuant to
                  outstanding options under the Registrant's 1996 Non-Officer
                  Equity Incentive Plan are based upon the actual price; and (c)
                  for shares issuable pursuant to unissued options under the
                  Registrant's 1996 Non-Officer Equity Incentive Plan are based
                  upon the average of the high and low prices of the
                  Registrant's Common Stock on July 30, 2001 as reported on the
                  Nasdaq National Market.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
==================================== ================================== ================================== =========================
                                                                                  OFFERING                           AGGREGATE
          TITLE OF SHARES                    NUMBER OF SHARES                 PRICE PER SHARE                      OFFERING PRICE
------------------------------------ ---------------------------------- ---------------------------------- -------------------------
<S>                                          <C>                                    <C>                            <C>
Common Stock issuable pursuant to
the Documentum, Inc. Employee
Stock Purchase Plan                          989,930 shares                         $13.24                         $13,106,673.20
------------------------------------ ---------------------------------- ---------------------------------- -------------------------
Common Stock issuable pursuant to
the outstanding options under the
1996 Non-Officer Equity Incentive
Plan                                         835,688 shares                         $8.00 - $59.375                $13,759,609.92
------------------------------------ ---------------------------------- ---------------------------------- -------------------------
Common Stock issuable pursuant to
unissued options under the 1996
Non-Officer Equity Incentive Plan            164,312 shares                         $15.575                        $2,559,159.40
==================================== ================================== ================================== =========================
</TABLE>

<PAGE>

                                EXPLANATORY NOTE

         This Registration Statement on Form S-8 is being filed for the purpose
of registering an additional (i) 989,930 shares of the Registrant's Common Stock
to be issued pursuant to the Registrant's Employee Stock Purchase Plan, as
amended, and (ii) 1,000,000 shares of the Registrant's Common Stock to be issued
pursuant to the Registrant's 1996 Non-Officer Equity Incentive Plan, as amended.


                                       2.
<PAGE>

                 INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE

         The contents of Registration Statement on Form S-8 (No. 333-081832)
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission") on March 4,
1996, Registration Statement on Form S-8 (No. 333-15239) filed with the
Commission on October 31, 1996, Registration Statement on Form S-8 (No.
333-39027) filed with the Commission on October 30, 1997, Registration Statement
on Form S-8 (No. 333-61871) filed with the Commission on August 20, 1998,
Registration Statement on Form S-8 (No. 333-86799) filed with the Commission on
September 9, 1999, and Registration Statement on Form S-8 No. 333-47226 filed
with the Commission on October 3, 2000 are incorporated by reference herein.




                                    EXHIBITS

EXHIBIT
NUMBER                                    DESCRIPTION

     4.1(1)   Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation

     4.2(2)   Amended and Restated Bylaws

     4.3(3)   Certificate of Amendment to the Amended and Restated Certificate
              of Incorporation

     4.4(4)   Amendment to Amend and Restated Bylaws

     4.5(2)   Specimen stock certificate

     4.6(2)   Amended and Restated Investor Rights Agreement, dated
              September 20, 1994, between the Registrant and certain investors

     5.1      Opinion of Cooley Godward LLP

     23.1     Consent of Arthur Andersen LLP

     23.2     Consent of Cooley Godward LLP is contained in Exhibit 5.1 to this
              Registration Statement.

     24.1     Power of Attorney is contained on the signature pages.

     99.1     Registrant's Employee Stock Purchase Plan, as amended.

     99.2(5)  Registrant's 1996 Non-Officer Equity Incentive Plan, as amended.


(1)      Filed as an exhibit to the Form S-8 Registration Statement (No.
         333-01832) and incorporated herein by reference.
(2)      Filed as an exhibit to the Form S-1 Registration Statement (No.
         33-80047), as amended through the date hereof and incorporated herein
         by reference.
(3)      Filed as an exhibit to the Form S-3 Registration Statement (No.
         333-59331), as amended through the date hereof and incorporated herein
         by reference.
(4)      Filed as an exhibit to the Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended
         June 30, 1998 and incorporated herein by reference.
(5)      Filed as an exhibit to the Form S-8 Registration Statement (No.
         333-47226), incorporated herein by reference.


                                       3.
<PAGE>

                                   SIGNATURES


         Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,
the Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets
all of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this
Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto
duly authorized, in the City of Pleasanton, State of California, on August 1,
2001.


                                             DOCUMENTUM, INC.


                                             By: /s/ Bob L. Corey
                                                --------------------------------
                                                     Bob L. Corey

                                             Title:  Chief Financial Officer





                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

         KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature
appears below constitutes and appoints David DeWalt and Bob L. Corey, and each
or any one of them, his true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, with full
power of substitution and resubstitution, for him and in his name, place and
stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments (including
post-effective amendments) to this Registration Statement, and to file the same,
with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the
Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and
agents, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and
every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in connection therewith,
as fully to all intents and purposes as he might or could do in person, hereby
ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or any of
them, or their or his substitutes or substitute, may lawfully do or cause to be
done by virtue hereof.


                                       4.
<PAGE>

         Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this
Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the
capacities and on the dates indicated.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

       SIGNATURE                                   TITLE                             DATE
<S>                                      <C>                                   <C>
 /s/ David DeWalt                              President & CEO                  August 1, 2001
-----------------------------
     DAVID DEWALT

 /s/ Bob L. Corey                          Chief Financial Officer              August 1, 2001
-----------------------------
     BOB L. COREY

 /s/ Robert Adams                                  Director                     August 1, 2001
-----------------------------
     ROBERT ADAMS

 /s/ Gary Banks                                    Director                     August 1, 2001
-----------------------------
     GARY BANKS

 /s/ John Hamm                                     Director                     August 1, 2001
-----------------------------
     JOHN HAMM

 /s/ Jeffrey A. Miller                             Director                     August 1, 2001
-----------------------------
     JEFFREY A. MILLER

 /s/ Geoffrey Moore                                Director                     August 1, 2001
-----------------------------
    GEOFFREY MOORE

 /s/ Michael Pehl                                  Director                     August 1, 2001
-----------------------------
     MICHAEL PEHL

</TABLE>

                                       5.
<PAGE>

                                  EXHIBIT INDEX


EXHIBIT
NUMBER                                      DESCRIPTION

    4.1(1)   Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation

    4.2(2)   Amended and Restated Bylaws

    4.3(3)   Certificate of Amendment to the Amended and Restated Certificate of
             Incorporation

    4.4(4)   Amendment to Amend and Restated Bylaws

    4.5(2)   Specimen stock certificate

    4.6(2)   Amended and Restated Investor Rights Agreement, dated
             September 20, 1994, between the Registrant and certain investors

    5.1      Opinion of Cooley Godward LLP

    23.1     Consent of Arthur Andersen LLP

    23.2     Consent of Cooley Godward LLP is contained in Exhibit 5 to this
             Registration Statement.

    24       Power of Attorney is contained on the signature pages.

    99.1     Registrant's Employee Stock Purchase Plan, as amended.

    99.2(5)  Registrant's 1996 Non-Officer Equity Incentive Plan, as amended.


(1)      Filed as an exhibit to the Form S-8 Registration Statement (No.
         333-01832) and incorporated herein by reference.
(2)      Filed as an exhibit to the Form S-1 Registration Statement (No.
         33-80047), as amended through the date hereof and incorporated herein
         by reference.
(3)      Filed as an exhibit to the Form S-3 Registration Statement (No.
         333-59331), as amended through the date hereof and incorporated herein
         by reference.
(4)      Filed as an exhibit to the Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended
         June 30, 1998 and incorporated herein by reference.
(5)      Filed as an exhibit to the Form S-8 Registration Statement (No.
         333-47226), incorporated herein by reference.


                                       6.
[{"type": "S-8", "sequence": "1", "filename": "gs8-25353.txt", "description": "S-8", "secsgml_size_bytes": 15028}]
{"company-data": {"conformed-name": "DOCUMENTUM INC", "cik": "0000930885", "assigned-sic": "7372", "irs-number": "954261421", "state-of-incorporation": "DE", "fiscal-year-end": "1231"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "S-8", "act": "33", "file-number": "333-66724", "film-number": "1697577"}, "business-address": {"street1": "6801 KOLL CENTER PARKWAY", "city": "PLEASANTON", "state": "CA", "zip": "94566-3145", "phone": "9256006800"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "6801 KOLL CENTER PARKWAY", "city": "PLEASANTON", "state": "CA", "zip": "94566-3145"}}
As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 3, 2001
                             Registration No. 333-
================================================================================
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                                  -------------

                                    FORM S-8
                             REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                      UNDER
                           THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

                                  -------------

                                DOCUMENTUM, INC.
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

        Delaware                                         95-4261421
(State of Incorporation)                    (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

                                  -------------

                            6801 Koll Center Parkway
                        Pleasanton, California 94566-3145

                    (Address of principal executive offices)

                                  -------------

                  Documentum, Inc. Employee Stock Purchase Plan
                     1996 Non-Officer Equity Incentive Plan

                            (Full title of the plans)

                                  -------------

                                  David DeWalt
                       President & Chief Executive Officer
                                Documentum, Inc.
                            6801 Koll Center Parkway
                        Pleasanton, California 94566-3145
                                 (925) 600-6800

            (Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number,
                   including area code, of agent for service)

                                  -------------

                                   Copies to:
                              James F. Fulton, Esq.
                               COOLEY GODWARD LLP
                              Five Palo Alto Square
                               3000 El Camino Real
                        Palo Alto, California 94306-2155
                                 (650) 843-5000

                                  -------------

                         CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
=========================== ========================= ====================== ========================= =======================
                                                         PROPOSED MAXIMUM         PROPOSED MAXIMUM
   TITLE OF SECURITIES       AMOUNT TO BE REGISTERED          OFFERING                AGGREGATE                AMOUNT OF
     TO BE REGISTERED                 (1)               PRICE PER SHARE (2)      OFFERING PRICE (2)        REGISTRATION FEE
--------------------------- ------------------------- ---------------------- ------------------------- -----------------------
Stock Options and Common
 Stock (par value $.001)         1,989,930 shares        $8.00 - $59.375          $29,425,435.52             $7,356.36
=========================== ========================= ====================== ========================= =======================
(1)      Pursuant to Rule 416(a), this Registration Statement shall
                  also cover any additional shares of the Registrant's Common
                  Stock that become issuable under the plans by reason of any
                  stock dividend, stock split, recapitalization or other similar
                  transaction effected without the receipt of consideration that
                  increases the number of the Registrant's outstanding shares of
                  Common Stock.
(2)      Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the amount of
                  the registration fee pursuant to Rule 457(h). The price per
                  share and aggregate offering price (a) for shares issuable
                  under the Registrant's Employee Stock Purchase Plan are based
                  upon 85% of the average of the high and low prices of
                  Registrant's Common Stock on July 30, 2001, as reported on the
                  Nasdaq National Market; (b) for shares issuable pursuant to
                  outstanding options under the Registrant's 1996 Non-Officer
                  Equity Incentive Plan are based upon the actual price; and (c)
                  for shares issuable pursuant to unissued options under the
                  Registrant's 1996 Non-Officer Equity Incentive Plan are based
                  upon the average of the high and low prices of the
                  Registrant's Common Stock on July 30, 2001 as reported on the
                  Nasdaq National Market.
==================================== ================================== ================================== =========================
                                                                                  OFFERING                           AGGREGATE
          TITLE OF SHARES                    NUMBER OF SHARES                 PRICE PER SHARE                      OFFERING PRICE
------------------------------------ ---------------------------------- ---------------------------------- -------------------------
Common Stock issuable pursuant to
the Documentum, Inc. Employee
Stock Purchase Plan                          989,930 shares                         $13.24                         $13,106,673.20
------------------------------------ ---------------------------------- ---------------------------------- -------------------------
Common Stock issuable pursuant to
the outstanding options under the
1996 Non-Officer Equity Incentive
Plan                                         835,688 shares                         $8.00 - $59.375                $13,759,609.92
------------------------------------ ---------------------------------- ---------------------------------- -------------------------
Common Stock issuable pursuant to
unissued options under the 1996
Non-Officer Equity Incentive Plan            164,312 shares                         $15.575                        $2,559,159.40
==================================== ================================== ================================== =========================
EXPLANATORY NOTE

         This Registration Statement on Form S-8 is being filed for the purpose
of registering an additional (i) 989,930 shares of the Registrant's Common Stock
to be issued pursuant to the Registrant's Employee Stock Purchase Plan, as
amended, and (ii) 1,000,000 shares of the Registrant's Common Stock to be issued
pursuant to the Registrant's 1996 Non-Officer Equity Incentive Plan, as amended.

                                       2.
INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE

         The contents of Registration Statement on Form S-8 (No. 333-081832)
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission") on March 4,
1996, Registration Statement on Form S-8 (No. 333-15239) filed with the
Commission on October 31, 1996, Registration Statement on Form S-8 (No.
333-39027) filed with the Commission on October 30, 1997, Registration Statement
on Form S-8 (No. 333-61871) filed with the Commission on August 20, 1998,
Registration Statement on Form S-8 (No. 333-86799) filed with the Commission on
September 9, 1999, and Registration Statement on Form S-8 No. 333-47226 filed
with the Commission on October 3, 2000 are incorporated by reference herein.

                                    EXHIBITS

EXHIBIT
NUMBER                                    DESCRIPTION

     4.1(1)   Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation

     4.2(2)   Amended and Restated Bylaws

     4.3(3)   Certificate of Amendment to the Amended and Restated Certificate
              of Incorporation

     4.4(4)   Amendment to Amend and Restated Bylaws

     4.5(2)   Specimen stock certificate

     4.6(2)   Amended and Restated Investor Rights Agreement, dated
              September 20, 1994, between the Registrant and certain investors

     5.1      Opinion of Cooley Godward LLP

     23.1     Consent of Arthur Andersen LLP

     23.2     Consent of Cooley Godward LLP is contained in Exhibit 5.1 to this
              Registration Statement.

     24.1     Power of Attorney is contained on the signature pages.

     99.1     Registrant's Employee Stock Purchase Plan, as amended.

     99.2(5)  Registrant's 1996 Non-Officer Equity Incentive Plan, as amended.

(1)      Filed as an exhibit to the Form S-8 Registration Statement (No.
         333-01832) and incorporated herein by reference.
(2)      Filed as an exhibit to the Form S-1 Registration Statement (No.
         33-80047), as amended through the date hereof and incorporated herein
         by reference.
(3)      Filed as an exhibit to the Form S-3 Registration Statement (No.
         333-59331), as amended through the date hereof and incorporated herein
         by reference.
(4)      Filed as an exhibit to the Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended
         June 30, 1998 and incorporated herein by reference.
(5)      Filed as an exhibit to the Form S-8 Registration Statement (No.
         333-47226), incorporated herein by reference.

                                       3.
SIGNATURES

         Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,
the Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets
all of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this
Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto
duly authorized, in the City of Pleasanton, State of California, on August 1,
2001.

                                             DOCUMENTUM, INC.

                                             By: /s/ Bob L. Corey
                                                --------------------------------
                                                     Bob L. Corey

                                             Title:  Chief Financial Officer

                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

         KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature
appears below constitutes and appoints David DeWalt and Bob L. Corey, and each
or any one of them, his true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, with full
power of substitution and resubstitution, for him and in his name, place and
stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments (including
post-effective amendments) to this Registration Statement, and to file the same,
with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the
Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and
agents, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and
every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in connection therewith,
as fully to all intents and purposes as he might or could do in person, hereby
ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or any of
them, or their or his substitutes or substitute, may lawfully do or cause to be
done by virtue hereof.

                                       4.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this
Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the
capacities and on the dates indicated.
SIGNATURE                                   TITLE                             DATE
/s/ David DeWalt                              President & CEO                  August 1, 2001
-----------------------------
     DAVID DEWALT

 /s/ Bob L. Corey                          Chief Financial Officer              August 1, 2001
-----------------------------
     BOB L. COREY

 /s/ Robert Adams                                  Director                     August 1, 2001
-----------------------------
     ROBERT ADAMS

 /s/ Gary Banks                                    Director                     August 1, 2001
-----------------------------
     GARY BANKS

 /s/ John Hamm                                     Director                     August 1, 2001
-----------------------------
     JOHN HAMM

 /s/ Jeffrey A. Miller                             Director                     August 1, 2001
-----------------------------
     JEFFREY A. MILLER

 /s/ Geoffrey Moore                                Director                     August 1, 2001
-----------------------------
    GEOFFREY MOORE

 /s/ Michael Pehl                                  Director                     August 1, 2001
-----------------------------
     MICHAEL PEHL
5.
EXHIBIT INDEX

EXHIBIT
NUMBER                                      DESCRIPTION

    4.1(1)   Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation

    4.2(2)   Amended and Restated Bylaws

    4.3(3)   Certificate of Amendment to the Amended and Restated Certificate of
             Incorporation

    4.4(4)   Amendment to Amend and Restated Bylaws

    4.5(2)   Specimen stock certificate

    4.6(2)   Amended and Restated Investor Rights Agreement, dated
             September 20, 1994, between the Registrant and certain investors

    5.1      Opinion of Cooley Godward LLP

    23.1     Consent of Arthur Andersen LLP

    23.2     Consent of Cooley Godward LLP is contained in Exhibit 5 to this
             Registration Statement.

    24       Power of Attorney is contained on the signature pages.

    99.1     Registrant's Employee Stock Purchase Plan, as amended.

    99.2(5)  Registrant's 1996 Non-Officer Equity Incentive Plan, as amended.

(1)      Filed as an exhibit to the Form S-8 Registration Statement (No.
         333-01832) and incorporated herein by reference.
(2)      Filed as an exhibit to the Form S-1 Registration Statement (No.
         33-80047), as amended through the date hereof and incorporated herein
         by reference.
(3)      Filed as an exhibit to the Form S-3 Registration Statement (No.
         333-59331), as amended through the date hereof and incorporated herein
         by reference.
(4)      Filed as an exhibit to the Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended
         June 30, 1998 and incorporated herein by reference.
(5)      Filed as an exhibit to the Form S-8 Registration Statement (No.
         333-47226), incorporated herein by reference.

                                       6.