In this paper, we discuss the issues and future trends on patentable parameter setting components implemented in multimedia database systems. Multimedia databases in the applications of parameter setting components consist of copyrightable metadata. The data-processing processes are patentable in the forms of parameter setting components. The current techniques in parameter setting components enclose a variety of numerical parametric information which inventors would like to cover as trade secret. We present the conditions of copyrightability on the multimedia databases and the patentability on the parameter setting components with the directions for protecting numerical parametric information as trade secret.