Method for protecting production data for producing product

The invention relates to a method for producing a product by means of a machine tool (1, 10), wherein the control information and/or production data (8) of a machine tool (1), such as a milling machine, injection molding machine, welding robot, laser cutter or 3D printer, is protected or cryptographically encrypted such that unauthorized copying or modifying is prevented, comprising the steps: producing (S1, S1') the product by means of the machine tool (1, 10) taking into consideration control information (7) which controls the production of the product; generating (S2, S2') production data (8) by means of the machine tool (1, 10) during production of the product, wherein the production data (8) describes the production of the product; providing (S3, S3') protection information (9) to themachine tool (1, 10), which indicates which of the production data (8) is to be protected, and defines a protection method for the production data (8) which is to be protected; and protecting (S4, S4') that production data (