Patent ID: 8266283

Claim:
A system, implemented by and including a computer readable media and a computer-accessible storage device that is in communication with the computer readable media, for organizing file and directory structures that are accessible via a non-linear video editing (NLE) program, the system comprising: a first folder corresponding to a shared project space; a plurality of editors assigned to the shared project space and thereby enabled to use the NLE program to access the shared project space; at least one project folder located in the first folder, the at least one project folder corresponding to a shared project that is detectable by the NLE; a plurality of automatically created User Folders located in the at least one project folder, such that each of the plurality of editors is automatically provided with a corresponding User Folder located in the at least one project folder and that is detectable by the NLE program; automatically created ownerships to the plurality of User Folders, such that each of the plurality of editors is only an owner of their corresponding User Folder and of any contents contained therein; and automatically created permissions to the plurality of User Folders that enable the contents contained in each of the plurality of User Folders to be read by all of the plurality of editors and created, modified, or deleted by only the owner; for each of the plurality of editors, an automatically created set of symbolic links located in the first folder, wherein each symbolic link of the set of symbolic links points to one of the plurality of User Folders in a manner such that each set of symbolic links points to all of the plurality of User Folders; wherein the ownerships and the permissions enable the plurality of editors to use the NLE program to collaborate on video editing projects while protecting work of each of the plurality of editors.