1. A method for editing a printed circuit board design, comprising: (a) receiving design data at each of first and second clients, wherein: the design data includes graphically displayable information regarding a pattern of electronic components and connections between those components for at least a portion of the printed circuit board design, the design data includes data corresponding to a shared area, and the shared area is simultaneously editable by both of the clients; (b) receiving a user instruction at the first client to protect a portion of the shared area from editing by the second client; (c) transmitting an edit request from the second client regarding the protected portion; and (d) receiving data at the second client reflecting rejection of the edit request.