Index: lams_bb_integration/src/org/lamsfoundation/ld/integration/blackboard/LamsSecurityUtil.java
===================================================================
diff -u -r2b13871ed2a4112d82813d265612c7d8a515ed46 -r0afe65522880b0c7c8c4c19162c1ff35b371e4a9
--- lams_bb_integration/src/org/lamsfoundation/ld/integration/blackboard/LamsSecurityUtil.java	(.../LamsSecurityUtil.java)	(revision 2b13871ed2a4112d82813d265612c7d8a515ed46)
+++ lams_bb_integration/src/org/lamsfoundation/ld/integration/blackboard/LamsSecurityUtil.java	(.../LamsSecurityUtil.java)	(revision 0afe65522880b0c7c8c4c19162c1ff35b371e4a9)
@@ -69,7 +69,8 @@
 public class LamsSecurityUtil {
 
     private static Logger logger = Logger.getLogger(LamsSecurityUtil.class);
-
+    private static final String DUMMY_COURSE = "Previews"; 
+    
     /**
      * Generates login requests to LAMS for author, monitor and learner
      * 
@@ -104,8 +105,9 @@
 	String country = getCountry(locale);
 	String lang = getLanguage(locale);
 
-	// For template authoring calls we don't need the course. We probably don't need it for authoring in general
-	String courseId = ctx.getCourse()!=null ? ctx.getCourse().getCourseId() : null;
+	// Even for authoring calls we still need a 'course' the user, role & organisation are all bound up together
+	// do to be authorised to use authoring you must be in an organisation.
+	String courseId = ctx.getCourse()!=null ? ctx.getCourse().getCourseId() : DUMMY_COURSE;
 
 	String secretkey = LamsPluginUtil.getSecretKey();