diff --git a/webapp/web/WEB-INF/resources/permission_config.n3 b/webapp/web/WEB-INF/resources/permission_config.n3
index 5f83f0ad6..d25b8cded 100644
--- a/webapp/web/WEB-INF/resources/permission_config.n3
+++ b/webapp/web/WEB-INF/resources/permission_config.n3
@@ -148,5 +148,7 @@ auth:PUBLIC
 
     # role-based permissions for PUBLIC
     auth:hasPermission displayByRole:Public ;
-    auth:hasPermission editByRole:Public ;
+    
+    # why are some properties declared editable by PUBLIC, but we don't want them to be.
+    # auth:hasPermission editByRole:Public ;
     .