No David,
It is not a permissions issue.
Just now duplicated this folder:
components/com_comprofiler/plugin/user/plug_cbgroupjive/templates/default/images/
to:
components/com_comprofiler/plugin/user/plug_cbgroupjive/templates/newgroup/images/
with the including files:
canvas.png and logo.png
And replaced these 2 files with new and different ones.
Now I am able on the admin side to choose a different template for all the new groups to be created. The newly created folder: "newgroup" is now an alternative selection for default.
That is how far I got till now. Next would be your answer, David. Because at the point you are showing (frontend) you will probably then also be able to select a different logo and canvas for the new group you just created.
Your new uploaded files probably will get a new folder within the same directory as mentioned above.
I was merely approaching this from a different angle.
Hopefully this will also help others,
Burnardo