1. A computer-implemented method for editing a printed circuit board design maintained in a common database storing printed circuit board design data incorporating edits from multiple clients, comprising: (a) receiving design data from the common database at each of first and second clients, wherein the design data is graphically displayable at the first and second clients as a pattern of electronic components and connections between those components for at least a portion of the printed circuit board design, and the pattern of electronic components and connections between those components corresponds to a shared area of the printed circuit board design throughout which the first and second clients have simultaneous access to edit design objects and to cause modification of the common database to reflect said design object edits; (b) subsequent to step (a), receiving an instruction at the first client to protect a portion of the shared area from editing by the second client, wherein the instruction comprises a line drawn around the protected portion at the first client that defines a boundary of the protected portion; (c) subsequent to step (b), 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, said rejection being based on the presence of the protected portion.