The invention relates to a protective layer and to a method for applying the protective layer (4) during a continuous reel-to-reel method for producing a semi-finished product and a semi-finished product of an organic electronic component, comprising a layer stack (3) on a substrate film (2). The protective layer protects the layer stack prior to and during the final production from environmental influences and from the damages related to handling. The aim of the invention is to produce a protective layer and to provide a method for the production thereof, said method being simple, flexible and economical, and at the same time, the method and the protective layer themselves having as few disadvantageous effects as possible on the functional layers which are to be protected. Said aim is achieved in that a protective layer material which is at least temporarily fluid, and which can be cross-linked or hardened in the application phase, and which is compatible with the layer stack in the fluid and solid phase and also with the conditions during the reel-to-reel method, is applied in such a manner that a functional protective layer is produced.