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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 UEPRGugfz1ENyEg1EwFBRhPVJIStNNjRteuN294ikVUhmiXtm6uKhsDHklC2RypN
 +zpD1ptx8tBSR5rzXrjoYg==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001181431-03-036764.txt : 20031219
<SEC-HEADER>0001181431-03-036764.hdr.sgml : 20031219
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20031219115714
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001181431-03-036764
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20031217
FILED AS OF DATE:		20031219

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			ZERUCHA JOSEPH ALLEN
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001272904

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-24248
		FILM NUMBER:		031064117

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		100 PRAIRIE DRIVE
		CITY:			SAN DIMAS
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			91773

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			AMERICAN TECHNOLOGY CORP /DE/
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000924383
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	HOUSEHOLD AUDIO & VIDEO EQUIPMENT [3651]
		IRS NUMBER:				870361799
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0930

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		13114 EVENING CREEK DRIVE SOUTH
		CITY:			SAN DIEGO
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			92128
		BUSINESS PHONE:		6196792114
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>rrd26382.xml
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?><ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-12-17</periodOfReport><notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000924383</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>AMERICAN TECHNOLOGY CORP /DE/</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>atco</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001272904</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>ZERUCHA JOSEPH ALLEN</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>13114 EVENING CREEK DRIVE SOUTH</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SAN DIEGO</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>92128</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>0</isDirector><isOfficer>1</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle>Vice President Sales &amp; Mkting</officerTitle></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><derivativeTable><derivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>ISO Stock Option</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>4.40</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-12-17</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>75000</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>0</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><value>2004-06-17</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2008-12-17</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><un
derlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>75000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>75000</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeTransaction></derivativeTable><footnotes><footnote id="F1">Options vest quarterly over two years commencing six months from grant.</footnote></footnotes><ownerSignature><signatureName>/s/ JOSEPH A. ZERUCHA</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-12-19</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>



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</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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