Article 20

1. Without prejudice to Article 152 of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001, the Office and the central industrial property offices of the Member States, including the Benelux Office for Intellectual Property, shall, upon request, communicate to each other relevant information about the filing of applications for EU trade marks or national marks and about proceedings relating to such applications and the marks registered as a result thereof.

2. The Office and the courts or authorities of the Member States shall exchange information for the purposes of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001 directly or through the central industrial property offices of the Member States.

3. Expenditure in respect of communications under paragraphs 1 and 2 shall be chargeable to the authority making the communications. Such communications shall be exempt from fees.