Applying for a trademark can be an exciting year scary step to take, when you have never done it before. Even if you have applied for a trademark in the United States, there are certain steps you should know before applying for a trademark in China. Unlike the United States, China does not provide protection, under common law, for trademarks that are unregistered. China grants ownership of a trademark to the first person who registers it. First, you are going to want to get a property agent or attorney to take care of the filing for you. The reason for this is that China's laws require that foreigners, who do not have a permanent address in the country, must use a state-approved agent when registering. You will also want to make sure to search the China Trademark Office to confirm that the trademark has not already been registered. Completion of all of the forms, in Chinese, and selecting a trademark class is also necessary when registering.