The London Stock Exchange has responded to the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) on Exposure Draft ED8 'Operating Segments'. In our letter, we recognise the potential of this work for helping the analyst community to derive more accurate earnings forecasts. Our response also suggests that for technology and healthcare companies (including those members of our techMARK and techMARK mediscience communities) whose business models rely on intellectual property, there is a balance to be struck between the interests of disclosure and the desire of such companies to protect their competitive positions.