Index: kernel-impl/src/main/java/org/sakaiproject/content/impl/BaseContentService.java
===================================================================
--- kernel-impl/src/main/java/org/sakaiproject/content/impl/BaseContentService.java	(revision 57902)
+++ kernel-impl/src/main/java/org/sakaiproject/content/impl/BaseContentService.java	(working copy)
@@ -1599,8 +1628,12 @@
 		boolean isAllowed = SecurityService.isSuperUser();
 		if(! isAllowed)
 		{
 			lock = convertLockIfDropbox(lock, id);
 
+			if (id != null && id.endsWith("/") && id.toLowerCase().indexOf("/protected") >= 0 && lock.equals("content.read")) {
+			    lock = "content.hidden";
+			}
+
 			// make a reference from the resource id, if specified
 			String ref = null;
 			if (id != null)
@@ -1671,7 +1706,11 @@
 			ref = getReference(id);
 		}
 
-		if (!SecurityService.unlock(lock, ref))
+		if (id != null && id.endsWith("/") && id.toLowerCase().indexOf("/protected") >= 0 && lock.equals("content.read")) {
+		    lock = "content.hidden";
+		}
+
+		if (!SecurityService.unlock(lock, ref))
 		{
 			throw new PermissionException(SessionManager.getCurrentSessionUserId(), lock, ref);
 		}