First the data - Then the schema (Score 1)

Protecting the contents of the database seems logical enough, but what if a judge decides the law applies to the schema of the database? The real value of some databases is not in the data elements but their defined inter-relationships. If that is where the value resides, then that is where legal protection will be desired.

It scares me to think that a data schema for a bank could be registered and any other databases that are substantially similar could be held hostage.

I know it sounds far fetched, but one judge, one big case...