File Permissions On Database Files

[Hal Vaughan]

My MySQL databases are stored in a directory that is with the rest of my 
project.  I am using rsync to back up the entire project, including the 
database files.  I'd much rather do it this way than to create files with 
mysqldump.  Whenever MySQL creates a new database, the file is owned by the 
user mysql, and has limited read and write permissions (this is on Linux, 
btw).  It would be a HUGE help if I could make sure every time MySQL creates 
any files, it creates them with at least group if not all read access for 
backup purposes.

Is there a simple way to do this? 

Thanks!

Hal