Patent ID: 8706760

Claim:
A method comprising: receiving in a server computer, a request to open a server copy of a file, the request indicative of being originated from a first user computer, said server copy simultaneously accessed in a default read-only mode by a plurality of user computers, the plurality of user computers comprising said first user computer, wherein said server copy is retained in the default read-only mode; in response to the request, using an application in said server computer to open said server copy in said server computer in a default read-only mode that allows granting of editing privileges to the plurality of user computers; detecting an indication from the first user computer of an intent to edit said server copy in said server computer without making a local copy in said first user computer, the indication occurring after opening up the server copy to the plurality of user computers in the default read-only mode and the indication determining that the first user computer has had said server copy open in said default read-only mode for at least a pre-specified period of time; and upon determining that the pre-specified period of time has been equal or exceeded by the first user computer having the server copy open in said default read-only mode, changing said server copy from the default read-only mode to a read/write mode for the first user computer and locking out other computers of the plurality of user computers from obtaining editing privileges for said server copy while said server copy remains open by the first user computer for editing on said server computer.