Judgment of the General Court of 1 September 2021 – e*Message Wireless Information Services v EUIPO – Apple (e*message)

(Case T-834/19) ¹

(EU trade mark – Invalidity proceedings – EU figurative mark e*message – Absolute grounds for refusal – Descriptive character – Lack of distinctive character – Declaration of invalidity – Provisions applicable ratione temporis – Application of subsequent case-law – Article 17 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights – Principles of protection of legitimate expectations and of legal certainty)

Language of the case: English

Parties

Applicant: e*Message Wireless Information Services GmbH (Berlin, Germany) (represented by: A. Hotz, lawyer)

Defendant: European Union Intellectual Property Office (represented by: D. Walicka and V. Ruzek, acting as Agents)

Other party to the proceedings before the Board of Appeal of EUIPO, intervener before the General Court: Apple Inc. (Cupertino, California, United States) (represented by: V. Schmitz-Fohrmann, lawyer)

Re:

Action brought against the decision of the Fifth Board of Appeal of EUIPO of 10 September 2019 (Case R 2454/2018-5), relating to invalidity proceedings between Apple and e*Message Wireless Information Services.

Operative part of the judgment

The Court:

Dismisses the action;

Orders e*Message Wireless Information Services GmbH to bear its own costs and to pay those incurred by the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) and by Apple Inc.

____________

¹     OJ C 45, 10.2.2020.