Method and apparatus for sharing resource locks amongst applications

A method and apparatus for sharing an exclusive lock for a resource amongst a defined plurality of applications. A first application to lock a resource is given a key. The first application may provide the key to other applications to allow those applications to simultaneously access the locked resource. Generally, the first application will only provide keys to applications that are compatible with the first application such that the applications having keys to a resource will be able to simultaneously access the resource without conflict.