Index: src/applications/maniphest/storage/ManiphestTask.php
===================================================================
--- src/applications/maniphest/storage/ManiphestTask.php
+++ src/applications/maniphest/storage/ManiphestTask.php
@@ -232,21 +232,29 @@
 
   public function hasAutomaticCapability($capability, PhabricatorUser $user) {
 
+    $user_phid = $user->getPHID();
     // The owner of a task can always view and edit it.
     $owner_phid = $this->getOwnerPHID();
     if ($owner_phid) {
-      $user_phid = $user->getPHID();
       if ($user_phid == $owner_phid) {
         return true;
       }
     }
 
+    // The author of a task can always view and edit it.
+    $author_phid = $this->getAuthorPHID();
+    if ($author_phid) {
+      if ($user_phid == $author_phid) {
+        return true;
+      }
+    }
+
     return false;
   }
 
   public function describeAutomaticCapability($capability) {
     return pht(
-      'The owner of a task can always view and edit it.');
+      'The author/owner of a task can always view and edit it.');
   }