Thank you for your reply.

Let me make sure that I understand: so you are suggesting embedding the Perl program (that contains the IP) in some sort of C wrapper program and then compiling the C program?

If this is the case what is the executable that I deliver? Is this a standalone C executable? will the Perl program need to be provided in addition to this executable or the Perl code will be "hidden" (I understand that not completely...) INSIDE this executable?