content: <PAGE>   1
  
      As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 9, 2001
  
                                           REGISTRATION STATEMENT NO. 333-________
  
  ================================================================================
  
                         SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                               WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
  
                             --------------------------
  
                                      FORM S-8
                               REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                        UNDER
                             THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
  
                             --------------------------
  
                                   FIREPOND, INC.
               (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)
  
  
          DELAWARE                                        41-1462409
  (STATE OF INCORPORATION)                    (I.R.S. EMPLOYER IDENTIFICATION NO.)
  
  
  
                                  890 WINTER STREET
                            WALTHAM, MASSACHUSETTS 02451
                                   (781) 487-8400
     (ADDRESS, INCLUDING ZIP CODE, AND TELEPHONE NUMBER, INCLUDING AREA CODE, OF
                     REGISTRANT'S PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICES)
  
  
                               FULL TITLE OF THE PLANS
  
                          1999 STOCK OPTION AND GRANT PLAN
  
  
                                   KLAUS P. BESIER
                        CHAIRMAN AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
                                   FIREPOND, INC.
                                  890 WINTER STREET
                            WALTHAM, MASSACHUSETTS 02451
                                   (781) 487-8400
  
      (NAME, ADDRESS, INCLUDING ZIP CODE, AND TELEPHONE NUMBER, INCLUDING AREA
                            CODE, OF AGENT FOR SERVICE)
  
                             --------------------------
  
                           CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
  
  <TABLE>
  <CAPTION>
  
  ==================================================================================================================================
  Title of Securities Being Registered              Amounts to       Proposed Maximum        Proposed Maximum          Amount of
                                                        be          Offering Price Per      Aggregate Offering     Registration Fee
                                                    Registered          Share (1)                  Price
  ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  <S>                                              <C>                  <C>                 <C>                       <C>
  Common Stock, par value $.01 per share           5,000,000             $0.45                   $2,250,000              $563.00
  =================================================================================================================================
  </TABLE>
  
  (1)  This estimate is made pursuant to Rule 457(c) and (h) under the Securities
       Act of 1933 solely for the purposes of determining the amount of the
       registration fee. The registration fee is based upon the average of the
       high and low prices for the Firepond's common stock, as reported on the
       Nasdaq National Market on October 8, 2001.
  
  
  <PAGE>   2
  
  
                                  EXPLANATORY NOTE
  
       This Registration Statement on Form S-8 filed by Firepond, Inc.
  ("Firepond") relates to an additional 5,000,000 shares of Firepond common stock,
  $.01 par value per share (the "Common Stock"), issuable pursuant to the
  Firepond, Inc. 1999 Stock Option and Grant Plan (the "Plan"). Firepond
  previously registered an aggregate of 3,000,000 shares of Common Stock for
  issuance under the Plan under a Registration Statement on Form S-8 filed with
  the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 3, 2000 (File No. 333-33932)
  (the "Initial Registration Statement"). Pursuant to General Instruction E to
  Form S-8, the contents of the Initial Registration Statement are hereby
  incorporated by reference into this Registration Statement, except as and to the
  extent otherwise set forth herein.
  
  
                                       PART I
  
                INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE SECTION 10(a) PROSPECTUS
  
  Item 1.  PLAN INFORMATION. *
  
  Item 2.  REGISTRANT INFORMATION AND EMPLOYEE PLAN ANNUAL INFORMATION. *
  
       * Information required by Part I to be contained in the Section 10(a)
  Prospectus is omitted from this Registration Statement in accordance with Rule
  428 under the Securities Act of 1933 (the "Securities Act") and the Introductory
  Note to Part I of Form S-8.
  
                                       PART II
  
                 INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT
  
  Item 3.  INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE.
  
       Firepond hereby incorporates by reference the following documents which
  have previously been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission:
  
       (a)  Firepond's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended
            October 31, 2000 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on
            January 29, 2001 (File No. 0-29251);
  
       (b)  Firepond's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended January
            31, 2001 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March
            19, 2001;
  
       (c)  Firepond's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended April
            30, 2001 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 14,
            2001;
  
       (d)  Firepond's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended July
            31, 2001 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on
            September 14, 2001;
  
       (e)  Firepond's current report on Form 8-K, filed with the Commission on
            March 2, 2001;
  
       (f)  Firepond's current report on Form 8-K/A, filed with the Commission on
            May 1, 2001;
  
       (g)  Firepond's current report on Form 8-K, filed with the Commission on
            June 28, 2001; and
  
       (h)  the description of Firepond's Common Stock contained in the
            Registration Statement on Form 8-A dated January 31, 2000 as filed
            with the Securities and Exchange Commission on January 31, 2000
            pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
            amended.
  
       In addition, all documents subsequently filed with the Securities and
  Exchange Commission by Firepond pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d)
  of the Exchange Act, prior to the filing of a post-effective amendment hereto
  that indicates that all securities offered hereunder have been sold or which
  deregisters all securities then remaining unsold, shall be deemed to be
  incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement and to be a part hereof
  from the date of filing of such documents. Any statement contained in a document
  incorporated by reference herein shall be deemed to be modified or superseded
  for purposes hereof to the extent that a statement contained herein or in any
  subsequently filed document which also is incorporated by reference herein
  modifies or supersedes such statement. Any statement so modified or superseded
  shall not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part
  of this Registration Statement.
  
  
  <PAGE>   3
  
  
  Item 8.  EXHIBITS.
  
       The following is a complete list of exhibits filed or incorporated by
  reference as part of this Registration Statement.
  
    Exhibits
    --------
  
       4.1  Third Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Firepond
            (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.3 to the Firepond, Inc.
            Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-90911), as amended,
            which was originally filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission
            on November 12, 1999).
  
       4.2  First Amended and Restated By-laws of Firepond (incorporated by
            reference to Exhibit 3.5 to the Firepond, Inc. Registration Statement
            on Form S-1 (File No. 333-90911), as amended, which was originally
            filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 12,
            1999).
  
       4.3  Specimen Certificate for Shares of Common Stock, par value $.01 per
            share, of Firepond (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the
            Firepond, Inc. Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No.
            333-90911), as amended, which was originally filed with the Securities
            and Exchange Commission on November 12, 1999).
  
       5.1  Opinion of McDermott, Will & Emery as to the legality of the
            securities being offered.
  
      23.1  Consent of McDermott, Will & Emery (included in Exhibit 5.1).
  
      23.2  Consent of Arthur Andersen LLP.
  
  
                                         2
  
  
  <PAGE>   4
  
  
       Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, Firepond, Inc.
  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 Waltham, Massachusetts on October 9, 2001
  
                                          Firepond, Inc.
  
                                          By: /s/ Klaus P. Besier
                                             -------------------------------------
                                             Klaus P. Besier
                                             Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
  
  
                                  POWER OF ATTORNEY
  
       KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS that each individual whose signature appears
  below constitutes and appoints each of Klaus P. Besier and Paul K. McDermott
  such person's true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent with full power of
  substitution and resubstitution for such period and in such person's 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 with
  same, with all exhibits thereto, and all documents in connection therewith, with
  the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto each said attorney-in-fact
  and agent full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and
  thing requisite and necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully to
  all intents and purposes as such person might or could do in person, hereby
  ratifying and confirming all that any said attorney-in-fact and agent, or any
  substitute or substitutes of any of them, may lawfully do or cause to be done by
  virtue hereof.
  
       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/ Klaus P. Besier                       Chairman, Chief Executive Officer,                     October 9, 2001
  ---------------------------------------   and Director (Principal Executive Officer)
  Klaus P. Besier
  
  /s/ Paul K. McDermott                     Chief Financial Officer and Vice President             October 9, 2001
  ---------------------------------------   of Finance and Administration (Principal Financial
  Paul K. McDermott                         and Accounting Officer)
  
  
  /s/ Paul R. Butare                        Director                                               October 9, 2001
  ---------------------------------------
  Paul R. Butare
  
                                            Director                                               October __, 2001
  ---------------------------------------
  J. Michael Cline
  
  /s/ William O. Grabe                      Director                                               October 9, 2001
  ---------------------------------------
  William O. Grabe
  
  /s/ Gerhard Schulmeyer                    Director                                               October 9, 2001
  ---------------------------------------
  Gerhard Schulmeyer
  
  /s/ Larry Weber                           Director                                               October 9, 2001
  ---------------------------------------
  Larry Weber
  </TABLE>
  
  
                                         3
  
  <PAGE>   5
  
  
                                    EXHIBIT INDEX
  
  
    Exhibits
    --------
  
       4.1  Third Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Firepond
            (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.3 to the Firepond, Inc.
            Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-90911), as amended,
            which was originally filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission
            on November 12, 1999).
  
       4.2  First Amended and Restated By-laws of Firepond (incorporated by
            reference to Exhibit 3.5 to the Firepond, Inc. Registration Statement
            on Form S-1 (File No. 333-90911), as amended, which was originally
            filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 12,
            1999).
  
       4.3  Specimen Certificate for Shares of Common Stock, par value $.01 per
            share, of Firepond (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the
            Firepond, Inc. Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No.
            333-90911), as amended, which was originally filed with the Securities
            and Exchange Commission on November 12, 1999).
  
       5.1  Opinion of McDermott, Will & Emery as to the legality of the
            securities being offered.
  
      23.1  Consent of McDermott, Will & Emery (included in Exhibit 5.1).
  
      23.2  Consent of Arthur Andersen LLP.
  
  
  
  
                                         4
metadata_documents: [{"type": "S-8", "sequence": "1", "filename": "b40740fps-8.txt", "description": "FIREPOND, INC.", "secsgml_size_bytes": 13761}]
metadata_filer: {"company-data": {"conformed-name": "FIREPOND INC", "cik": "0001098574", "assigned-sic": "7371", "irs-number": "411462409", "state-of-incorporation": "DE", "fiscal-year-end": "1031"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "S-8", "act": "33", "file-number": "333-71254", "film-number": "1754960"}, "business-address": {"street1": "WALTHAM WOODS CORPORATE CENTER", "street2": "890 WINTER STREET SUITE 300", "city": "WALTHAM", "state": "MA", "zip": "02451", "phone": "7814878400"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "WALTHAM WOODS CORPORATE CENTER", "street2": "890 WINTER STREET SUITE 300", "city": "WALTHAM", "state": "MA", "zip": "02451"}}
text: 1
  
      As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 9, 2001
  
                                           REGISTRATION STATEMENT NO. 333-________
  
  ================================================================================
  
                         SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                               WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
  
                             --------------------------
  
                                      FORM S-8
                               REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                        UNDER
                             THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
  
                             --------------------------
  
                                   FIREPOND, INC.
               (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)
  
          DELAWARE                                        41-1462409
  (STATE OF INCORPORATION)                    (I.R.S. EMPLOYER IDENTIFICATION NO.)
  
                                  890 WINTER STREET
                            WALTHAM, MASSACHUSETTS 02451
                                   (781) 487-8400
     (ADDRESS, INCLUDING ZIP CODE, AND TELEPHONE NUMBER, INCLUDING AREA CODE, OF
                     REGISTRANT'S PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICES)
  
                               FULL TITLE OF THE PLANS
  
                          1999 STOCK OPTION AND GRANT PLAN
  
                                   KLAUS P. BESIER
                        CHAIRMAN AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
                                   FIREPOND, INC.
                                  890 WINTER STREET
                            WALTHAM, MASSACHUSETTS 02451
                                   (781) 487-8400
  
      (NAME, ADDRESS, INCLUDING ZIP CODE, AND TELEPHONE NUMBER, INCLUDING AREA
                            CODE, OF AGENT FOR SERVICE)
  
                             --------------------------
  
                           CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
  ==================================================================================================================================
  Title of Securities Being Registered              Amounts to       Proposed Maximum        Proposed Maximum          Amount of
                                                        be          Offering Price Per      Aggregate Offering     Registration Fee
                                                    Registered          Share (1)                  Price
  ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  Common Stock, par value $.01 per share           5,000,000             $0.45                   $2,250,000              $563.00
  =================================================================================================================================
  (1)  This estimate is made pursuant to Rule 457(c) and (h) under the Securities
       Act of 1933 solely for the purposes of determining the amount of the
       registration fee. The registration fee is based upon the average of the
       high and low prices for the Firepond's common stock, as reported on the
       Nasdaq National Market on October 8, 2001.
  2
  
                                  EXPLANATORY NOTE
  
       This Registration Statement on Form S-8 filed by Firepond, Inc.
  ("Firepond") relates to an additional 5,000,000 shares of Firepond common stock,
  $.01 par value per share (the "Common Stock"), issuable pursuant to the
  Firepond, Inc. 1999 Stock Option and Grant Plan (the "Plan"). Firepond
  previously registered an aggregate of 3,000,000 shares of Common Stock for
  issuance under the Plan under a Registration Statement on Form S-8 filed with
  the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 3, 2000 (File No. 333-33932)
  (the "Initial Registration Statement"). Pursuant to General Instruction E to
  Form S-8, the contents of the Initial Registration Statement are hereby
  incorporated by reference into this Registration Statement, except as and to the
  extent otherwise set forth herein.
  
                                       PART I
  
                INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE SECTION 10(a) PROSPECTUS
  
  Item 1.  PLAN INFORMATION. *
  
  Item 2.  REGISTRANT INFORMATION AND EMPLOYEE PLAN ANNUAL INFORMATION. *
  
       * Information required by Part I to be contained in the Section 10(a)
  Prospectus is omitted from this Registration Statement in accordance with Rule
  428 under the Securities Act of 1933 (the "Securities Act") and the Introductory
  Note to Part I of Form S-8.
  
                                       PART II
  
                 INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT
  
  Item 3.  INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE.
  
       Firepond hereby incorporates by reference the following documents which
  have previously been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission:
  
       (a)  Firepond's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended
            October 31, 2000 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on
            January 29, 2001 (File No. 0-29251);
  
       (b)  Firepond's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended January
            31, 2001 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March
            19, 2001;
  
       (c)  Firepond's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended April
            30, 2001 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 14,
            2001;
  
       (d)  Firepond's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended July
            31, 2001 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on
            September 14, 2001;
  
       (e)  Firepond's current report on Form 8-K, filed with the Commission on
            March 2, 2001;
  
       (f)  Firepond's current report on Form 8-K/A, filed with the Commission on
            May 1, 2001;
  
       (g)  Firepond's current report on Form 8-K, filed with the Commission on
            June 28, 2001; and
  
       (h)  the description of Firepond's Common Stock contained in the
            Registration Statement on Form 8-A dated January 31, 2000 as filed
            with the Securities and Exchange Commission on January 31, 2000
            pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
            amended.
  
       In addition, all documents subsequently filed with the Securities and
  Exchange Commission by Firepond pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d)
  of the Exchange Act, prior to the filing of a post-effective amendment hereto
  that indicates that all securities offered hereunder have been sold or which
  deregisters all securities then remaining unsold, shall be deemed to be
  incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement and to be a part hereof
  from the date of filing of such documents. Any statement contained in a document
  incorporated by reference herein shall be deemed to be modified or superseded
  for purposes hereof to the extent that a statement contained herein or in any
  subsequently filed document which also is incorporated by reference herein
  modifies or supersedes such statement. Any statement so modified or superseded
  shall not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part
  of this Registration Statement.
  3
  
  Item 8.  EXHIBITS.
  
       The following is a complete list of exhibits filed or incorporated by
  reference as part of this Registration Statement.
  
    Exhibits
    --------
  
       4.1  Third Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Firepond
            (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.3 to the Firepond, Inc.
            Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-90911), as amended,
            which was originally filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission
            on November 12, 1999).
  
       4.2  First Amended and Restated By-laws of Firepond (incorporated by
            reference to Exhibit 3.5 to the Firepond, Inc. Registration Statement
            on Form S-1 (File No. 333-90911), as amended, which was originally
            filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 12,
            1999).
  
       4.3  Specimen Certificate for Shares of Common Stock, par value $.01 per
            share, of Firepond (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the
            Firepond, Inc. Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No.
            333-90911), as amended, which was originally filed with the Securities
            and Exchange Commission on November 12, 1999).
  
       5.1  Opinion of McDermott, Will & Emery as to the legality of the
            securities being offered.
  
      23.1  Consent of McDermott, Will & Emery (included in Exhibit 5.1).
  
      23.2  Consent of Arthur Andersen LLP.
  
                                         2
  4
  
       Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, Firepond, Inc.
  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 Waltham, Massachusetts on October 9, 2001
  
                                          Firepond, Inc.
  
                                          By: /s/ Klaus P. Besier
                                             -------------------------------------
                                             Klaus P. Besier
                                             Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
  
                                  POWER OF ATTORNEY
  
       KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS that each individual whose signature appears
  below constitutes and appoints each of Klaus P. Besier and Paul K. McDermott
  such person's true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent with full power of
  substitution and resubstitution for such period and in such person's 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 with
  same, with all exhibits thereto, and all documents in connection therewith, with
  the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto each said attorney-in-fact
  and agent full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and
  thing requisite and necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully to
  all intents and purposes as such person might or could do in person, hereby
  ratifying and confirming all that any said attorney-in-fact and agent, or any
  substitute or substitutes of any of them, may lawfully do or cause to be done by
  virtue hereof.
  
       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/ Klaus P. Besier                       Chairman, Chief Executive Officer,                     October 9, 2001
  ---------------------------------------   and Director (Principal Executive Officer)
  Klaus P. Besier
  
  /s/ Paul K. McDermott                     Chief Financial Officer and Vice President             October 9, 2001
  ---------------------------------------   of Finance and Administration (Principal Financial
  Paul K. McDermott                         and Accounting Officer)
  
  /s/ Paul R. Butare                        Director                                               October 9, 2001
  ---------------------------------------
  Paul R. Butare
  
                                            Director                                               October __, 2001
  ---------------------------------------
  J. Michael Cline
  
  /s/ William O. Grabe                      Director                                               October 9, 2001
  ---------------------------------------
  William O. Grabe
  
  /s/ Gerhard Schulmeyer                    Director                                               October 9, 2001
  ---------------------------------------
  Gerhard Schulmeyer
  
  /s/ Larry Weber                           Director                                               October 9, 2001
  ---------------------------------------
  Larry Weber
  3
  5
  
                                    EXHIBIT INDEX
  
    Exhibits
    --------
  
       4.1  Third Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Firepond
            (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.3 to the Firepond, Inc.
            Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-90911), as amended,
            which was originally filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission
            on November 12, 1999).
  
       4.2  First Amended and Restated By-laws of Firepond (incorporated by
            reference to Exhibit 3.5 to the Firepond, Inc. Registration Statement
            on Form S-1 (File No. 333-90911), as amended, which was originally
            filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 12,
            1999).
  
       4.3  Specimen Certificate for Shares of Common Stock, par value $.01 per
            share, of Firepond (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the
            Firepond, Inc. Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No.
            333-90911), as amended, which was originally filed with the Securities
            and Exchange Commission on November 12, 1999).
  
       5.1  Opinion of McDermott, Will & Emery as to the legality of the
            securities being offered.
  
      23.1  Consent of McDermott, Will & Emery (included in Exhibit 5.1).
  
      23.2  Consent of Arthur Andersen LLP.
  
                                         4