diff --git a/djangorestframework/mixins.py b/djangorestframework/mixins.py
index f4a9c998a..d5eeac818 100644
--- a/djangorestframework/mixins.py
+++ b/djangorestframework/mixins.py
@@ -527,6 +527,38 @@ class ModelMixin(object):
         """
         return self.get_queryset().get(**kwargs)
 
+    def get_owner(self):
+        """
+        Returns the model instance's owner, if any.
+
+        The owner is retrieved by calling the .get_owner() function on the model instance, if implemented. 
+        """
+        try:
+            return self.model_instance.get_owner()
+        except: pass
+
+    @property
+    def model_instance(self):
+        """
+        Returns the model instance for read/update/delete, or None if does not exist.
+        """
+
+        if hasattr(self, '_model_instance'): return self._model_instance
+
+        model = self.resource.model
+        request = self.request
+        args = self.args
+        kwargs = self.kwargs
+
+        query_kwargs = self.get_query_kwargs(request, *args, **kwargs)
+
+        try:
+            self._model_instance = self.get_instance(**query_kwargs)
+        except model.DoesNotExist:
+            pass
+
+        return self._model_instance
+
     def get_queryset(self):
         """
         Return the queryset for this view.
@@ -546,12 +578,8 @@ class ReadModelMixin(ModelMixin):
     Behavior to read a `model` instance on GET requests
     """
     def get(self, request, *args, **kwargs):
-        model = self.resource.model
-        query_kwargs = self.get_query_kwargs(request, *args, **kwargs)
 
-        try:
-            self.model_instance = self.get_instance(**query_kwargs)
-        except model.DoesNotExist:
+        if self.model_instance == None:
             raise ErrorResponse(status.HTTP_404_NOT_FOUND)
 
         return self.model_instance
@@ -602,18 +630,17 @@ class UpdateModelMixin(ModelMixin):
     Behavior to update a `model` instance on PUT requests
     """
     def put(self, request, *args, **kwargs):
+
         model = self.resource.model
-        query_kwargs = self.get_query_kwargs(request, *args, **kwargs)
 
         # TODO: update on the url of a non-existing resource url doesn't work
         # correctly at the moment - will end up with a new url
-        try:
-            self.model_instance = self.get_instance(**query_kwargs)
-
+        if self.model_instance == None:
+            self.model_instance = model(**self.get_instance_data(model, self.CONTENT, *args, **kwargs))
+        else:
             for (key, val) in self.CONTENT.items():
                 setattr(self.model_instance, key, val)
-        except model.DoesNotExist:
-            self.model_instance = model(**self.get_instance_data(model, self.CONTENT, *args, **kwargs))
+        
         self.model_instance.save()
         return self.model_instance
 
@@ -623,15 +650,9 @@ class DeleteModelMixin(ModelMixin):
     Behavior to delete a `model` instance on DELETE requests
     """
     def delete(self, request, *args, **kwargs):
-        model = self.resource.model
-        query_kwargs = self.get_query_kwargs(request, *args, **kwargs)
 
-        try:
-            instance = self.get_instance(**query_kwargs)
-        except model.DoesNotExist:
-            raise ErrorResponse(status.HTTP_404_NOT_FOUND, None, {})
-
-        instance.delete()
+        if self.model_instance == None: raise ErrorResponse(status.HTTP_404_NOT_FOUND, None, {})
+        self.model_instance.delete()
         return
 
 
diff --git a/djangorestframework/permissions.py b/djangorestframework/permissions.py
index dfe55ce94..8d02c4e5a 100644
--- a/djangorestframework/permissions.py
+++ b/djangorestframework/permissions.py
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ __all__ = (
     'BasePermission',
     'FullAnonAccess',
     'IsAuthenticated',
+    'IsResourceOwnerOrIsAnonReadOnly',
     'IsAdminUser',
     'IsUserOrIsAnonReadOnly',
     'PerUserThrottling',
@@ -77,6 +78,25 @@ class IsAdminUser(BasePermission):
             raise _403_FORBIDDEN_RESPONSE
 
 
+class IsResourceOwnerOrIsAnonReadOnly(BasePermission):
+    """
+    The request is authenticated as the owner of the resource, or is a read-only request.
+    """
+
+    def check_permission(self, user):
+
+        if self.view.method in('GET', 'HEAD',):
+            return
+
+        if not user.is_authenticated():
+            raise _403_FORBIDDEN_RESPONSE
+
+        if self.view.get_owner() == user:
+            return
+
+        raise _403_FORBIDDEN_RESPONSE
+
+
 class IsUserOrIsAnonReadOnly(BasePermission):
     """
     The request is authenticated as a user, or is a read-only request.
diff --git a/djangorestframework/resources.py b/djangorestframework/resources.py
index cc338cc05..7d0d1d5ff 100644
--- a/djangorestframework/resources.py
+++ b/djangorestframework/resources.py
@@ -32,6 +32,12 @@ class BaseResource(Serializer):
         """
         return self.serialize(obj)
 
+    def get_owner(self):
+        """
+        Returns a Django User instance as the owner of the resource, if any.
+        """
+        return None
+
 
 class Resource(BaseResource):
     """