diff --git a/lib/WebGUI/AssetHelper/Lock.pm b/lib/WebGUI/AssetHelper/Lock.pm
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..131846d7b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib/WebGUI/AssetHelper/Lock.pm
@@ -0,0 +1,61 @@
+package WebGUI::AssetHelper::Lock;
+
+use strict;
+use Class::C3;
+use base qw/WebGUI::AssetHelper/;
+
+=head1 LEGAL
+
+ -------------------------------------------------------------------
+  WebGUI is Copyright 2001-2009 Plain Black Corporation.
+ -------------------------------------------------------------------
+  Please read the legal notices (docs/legal.txt) and the license
+  (docs/license.txt) that came with this distribution before using
+  this software.
+ -------------------------------------------------------------------
+  http://www.plainblack.com                     info@plainblack.com
+ -------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+=head1 NAME
+
+Package WebGUI::AssetHelper::Locks
+
+=head1 DESCRIPTION
+
+Puts an edit lock on an Asset.
+
+=head1 METHODS
+
+These methods are available from this class:
+
+=cut
+
+#-------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+=head2 process ( $class, $asset )
+
+Locks the asset with a version tag.  If the user cannot edit the asset, or the asset is
+already locked, it returns an error message.
+
+=cut
+
+sub process {
+    my ($class, $asset) = @_;
+    my $session = $asset->session;
+
+    my $i18n = WebGUI::International->new($session, 'Asset');
+    if (! $asset->canEdit) {
+        return { error => $i18n->get('38', 'WebGUI'), };
+    }
+    elsif ( $asset->isLocked ) {
+        return { error => sprintf $i18n->get('already locked'), $asset->getTitle};
+    }
+
+    $asset = $asset->addRevision;
+
+    return {
+        message         => sprintf($i18n->get('locked asset'), $asset->getTitle),
+    };
+}
+
+1;
diff --git a/lib/WebGUI/i18n/English/Asset.pm b/lib/WebGUI/i18n/English/Asset.pm
index 2cfb248e5..b84d83e7d 100644
--- a/lib/WebGUI/i18n/English/Asset.pm
+++ b/lib/WebGUI/i18n/English/Asset.pm
@@ -1418,6 +1418,18 @@ Couldn't open %-s because %-s <br />
         context     => q{%s will be replaced by the title of the asset.},
     },
 
+    'already locked' => {
+        message     => q{The asset %s is already locked.},
+        lastUpdated => 0,
+        context     => q{%s will be replaced by the title of the asset.},
+    },
+
+    'locked asset' => {
+        message     => q{Locked the asset %s.},
+        lastUpdated => 0,
+        context     => q{%s will be replaced by the title of the asset.},
+    },
+
 };
 
 1;
diff --git a/t/AssetHelper/Lock.t b/t/AssetHelper/Lock.t
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..0ce0c236e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/t/AssetHelper/Lock.t
@@ -0,0 +1,92 @@
+# vim:syntax=perl
+#-------------------------------------------------------------------
+# WebGUI is Copyright 2001-2009 Plain Black Corporation.
+#-------------------------------------------------------------------
+# Please read the legal notices (docs/legal.txt) and the license
+# (docs/license.txt) that came with this distribution before using
+# this software.
+#------------------------------------------------------------------
+# http://www.plainblack.com                     info@plainblack.com
+#------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+# Write a little about what this script tests.
+# 
+#
+
+use FindBin;
+use strict;
+use lib "$FindBin::Bin/../lib";
+use Test::More;
+use Test::Deep;
+use WebGUI::Test; # Must use this before any other WebGUI modules
+use WebGUI::Session;
+use WebGUI::Asset;
+use WebGUI::AssetHelper::Lock;
+
+#----------------------------------------------------------------------------
+# Init
+my $session         = WebGUI::Test->session;
+
+
+#----------------------------------------------------------------------------
+# Tests
+
+plan tests => 3;        # Increment this number for each test you create
+
+#----------------------------------------------------------------------------
+# put your tests here
+
+my $output;
+my $home = WebGUI::Asset->getDefault($session);
+
+my $editor = WebGUI::User->create($session);
+$editor->addToGroups([4]);
+addToCleanup($editor);
+
+$session->user({userId => 3});
+my $newPage = $home->addChild({
+    className   => 'WebGUI::Asset::Wobject::Layout',
+    title       => 'Test page',
+    groupIdEdit => '4',
+    ownerUserId => '3',
+}, undef, WebGUI::Test->webguiBirthday, { skipAutoCommitWorkflows => 1, });
+my $versionTag = WebGUI::VersionTag->getWorking($session);
+$versionTag->commit;
+addToCleanup($versionTag);
+
+$newPage = $newPage->cloneFromDb;
+
+$session->user({userId => 1});
+$output = WebGUI::AssetHelper::Lock->process($newPage);
+cmp_deeply(
+    $output, 
+    {
+        error => re('You do not have sufficient privileges'),
+    },
+    'AssetHelper/Lock checks for editing privileges'
+);
+
+$session->user({userId => 3});
+$output = WebGUI::AssetHelper::Lock->process($newPage);
+cmp_deeply(
+    $output, 
+    {
+        message => 'Locked the asset Test page.',
+    },
+    '... locks the asset'
+);
+
+$newPage = $newPage->cloneFromDb;
+
+my $versionTag2 = WebGUI::VersionTag->getWorking($session);
+addToCleanup($versionTag2);
+
+$session->user({userId => $editor->getId});
+$output = WebGUI::AssetHelper::Lock->process($newPage);
+cmp_deeply(
+    $output, 
+    {
+        error => 'The asset Test page is already locked.',
+    },
+    '... returns an error message if the asset is already locked'
+);