A network has network nodes for storage of respective copies of a data file. One of the network nodes has a corresponding unique locality control object for the copies of the data file. The locality control object provides authority for the one network node to control storing and modifying any of the copies of the data file. The other network nodes lacking the locality control object must obtain permission from the one network node before modifying any one of the copies of the data file. The network nodes also can negotiate for passing the locality control object from the one network node to another one of the network nodes based on determined locality attributes associated with the copies of the data file.