Registering an international trademark is an important step in protecting a business's intellectual property, as it grants exclusive rights to the trademark in the countries where it is registered. The first step is to conduct a trademark search in order to ensure that the desired trademark is available for use. The next step is to file for the trademark with the appropriate international registration bodies such as the Madrid System, the European Union Intellectual Property Office, or the World Intellectual Property Organization. Once the trademark is accepted, the business must pay annual fees to maintain the registration and keep it in good standing. Finally, the business must monitor its trademark to ensure that it is not being used without permission in any of the countries in which it is registered.