Index: lams_tool_lamc/src/java/org/lamsfoundation/lams/tool/mc/McUtils.java
===================================================================
diff -u -re9652dbc883c777a4d2a9f7309278a4c38354980 -reb74dc1a2f79b5fdab21aed8aa1c1f0be8a66870
--- lams_tool_lamc/src/java/org/lamsfoundation/lams/tool/mc/McUtils.java	(.../McUtils.java)	(revision e9652dbc883c777a4d2a9f7309278a4c38354980)
+++ lams_tool_lamc/src/java/org/lamsfoundation/lams/tool/mc/McUtils.java	(.../McUtils.java)	(revision eb74dc1a2f79b5fdab21aed8aa1c1f0be8a66870)
@@ -883,5 +883,36 @@
     	}
     	return map;
 	}
+	
+	
+	/**
+	 * find out if the content is in use or not. If it is in use, the author can not modify it.
+	 * The idea of content being in use is, once any one learner starts using a particular content
+	 * that content should become unmodifiable. 
+	 * 
+	 * isContentInUse(McContent mcContent)
+	 * @param mcContent
+	 * @return boolean
+	 */
+	public static boolean isContentInUse(McContent mcContent)
+	{
+		logger.debug("is content inuse: " + mcContent.isContentInUse());
+		return  mcContent.isContentInUse();
+	}
+	
+	
+	/**
+	 * find out if the content is being edited in monitoring interface or not. If it is, the author can not modify it.
+	 * 
+	 * isDefineLater(McContent mcContent)
+	 * @param mcContent
+	 * @return boolean
+	 */
+	public static boolean isDefineLater(McContent mcContent)
+	{
+		logger.debug("is define later: " + mcContent.isDefineLater());
+		return  mcContent.isDefineLater();
+	}
 
+
 }