September 1997 American Programmer 9 | 1997 In This Issue: OverviewSeptember 1997 American ProgrammerWhy Patents Are Critical to Today's ProgrammersFear and Loathing: On the Trail of Stolen SoftwareThe Impact of the Internet on Intellectual Property RightsIntroduction: American Programmer September 1997The Bit and the Pendulum: Balancing the Interests of Stakeholders in Digital PublishingPatent Policy Perversion: A Personal Plea