Is that Kenny Crews with Dick Dale, the great surf guitarist? (Who saw "Pulp Fiction"?) What does that have to do with copyright? Plenty, it turns out! I had the privilege of attending the Dick Dale concert recently at the City Winery in New York City. Dick Dale played magnificently and told lots of stories. I grew up in Los Angeles, so the music, the beach, and the mood were delightful memories. Between stories of rock and roll, he spoke at length of the importance of keeping your copyrights! Was I the only one who applauded enthusiastically? Dick Dale recounted his ordeals with the music industry and the struggle over copyrights. It is the same message that needs to go to academic authors: Be careful what you sign. I am taking those lessons to heart these days as I review old files with my publication agreements. What exactly do I own? I need the answers as I make my claims in the Google Books Settlement. The king of surf guitar to the rescue. (Photo by Will Crews, thank you!)