A method for controlling copyright permissions when assembling multiple copyrighted works into a compiled file. The copyright permission level of each file is analyzed, either based on the copyright permission information present in metadata associated with the file or based on the digital file format of the file which reflects the permission level. The compiled file is assigned a permission level which is the same as or more restrictive than all of the permission level of the files in the compilation, and is generated in a format that enforces the assigned permission level. A notification may be displayed to the user to notify the use of the permission level assigned to the compiled file.