A system for controlling access rights of artifacts having computer operated functions of a computer program includes an access control database which has policies that control access by a party to the artifacts in an application development environment. The system includes an access control environment having the artifacts. The system includes an access policy controller in communication with the access control database and the application development environment which implements the policies and controls access by the party to the artifacts being controlled. A computer program embodied on a computer readable medium for controlling access rights of a party during composition, design and execution includes a plurality of artifacts. At least a first of the plurality of artifacts having a part being modifiable by the party and operative with all other artifacts of the plurality of artifacts after being modified. A method for controlling access rights of artifacts having computer operated functions of a computer program includes the steps of requesting by a party a request to access to the artifacts in an application development environment. There is the step of controlling access by the party to the artifacts in the application development environment with policies in an access control database by implementing the policies with an access policy controller in communication with the access control database and the application development environment. An apparatus for controlling access rights of artifacts having computer operated functions of a computer program.