Various embodiments of the disclosed technology can configure access permissions for content shared via an online content management system. In one example, a first user of the online content management system can share his directory including files with other users (“recipients”). Upon agreeing to the content sharing from the first user, the recipients can reconstruct local representations of the shared directory and any included file (i.e., local representations of shared content). Access permissions associated with the recipients' local representations of the shared content can be configured to prevent unpermitted/unauthorized modifying or deleting of the local representations by the recipients. However, the first user can maintain read and write permissions, permitting him to make modifications or deletions to the shared content. The recipients' local representations of the shared content can be updated by the online content management system to include the modifications or deletions made by the first user.