Source: EURLEX
Language: en
Format: md

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

(Case T‑834/19)

(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)

| 1. | EU trade mark – Appeals procedure – Action before the EU judicature – Legality of a decision issued by EUIPO’s Board of Appeal adjudicating in invalidity proceeding – Challenged by the adducing of new facts – Not permissible – Account taken, for the purposes of interpreting EU law, of EU national or international case-law not cited before the EUIPO bodies – Whether permissible  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 72)  (see para. 32) |

| 2. | EU trade mark – Decisions of EUIPO – Principle of equal treatment – Principle of sound administration – EUIPO’s previous decision-making practice – Principle of legality – Need for a strict and complete examination in each particular case  (Council Regulation No 40/94)  (see paras 39, 40) |

| 3. | EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Absolute grounds for invalidity – Marks composed exclusively of signs or indications capable of designating the characteristics of a product or service – Figurative mark e\*message  (Council Regulation No 40/94, Arts 7(1)(c) and 51(1)(a))  (see paras 49, 52, 54, 62, 68, 74-76) |

| 4. | EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Absolute grounds for invalidity – Marks composed exclusively of signs or indications capable of designating the characteristics of a product or service – Assessment of the descriptive nature of a sign – Criteria  (Council Regulation No 40/94, Arts 7(1)(c) and 51(1)(a))  (see para. 51) |

| 5. | EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Absolute grounds for invalidity – Marks composed exclusively of signs or indications capable of designating the characteristics of a product or service – Concept  (Council Regulation No 40/94, Arts 7(1)(c) and 51(1)(a))  (see para. 53) |

| 6. | EU trade mark – Procedural provisions – Examination of the facts of EUIPO’s own motion – Invalidity proceedings concerning absolute grounds for refusal – Examination restricted to the facts, evidence and arguments provided – Well-known facts taken into account  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 95(1))  (see paras 56, 64, 65) |

| 7. | EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Absolute grounds for invalidity – Registration contrary to Article 7 of Regulation No 40/94 – Relevant date for the examination of an absolute ground for nullity – Date of lodging the application for registration  (Council Regulation No 40/94, Arts 7(1) and 51(1)(a))  (see para. 69) |

| 8. | EU law – Principles – Protection of legitimate expectations – Conditions – Specific assurances given by the authorities – Compliance of the assurances with the applicable rules  (Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, Art. 17; Council Regulation No 40/94, Art. 51(1))  (see paras 91, 94-96, 102) |

| 9. | EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Absolute grounds for invalidity – Marks composed exclusively of signs or indications capable of designating the characteristics of a product or service – Aim – Need to preserve availability  (Council Regulation No 40/94, Arts 7(1)(c) and 51(1)(a))  (see para. 110) |

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

The Court:

| 1. | Dismisses the action; |

| 2. | 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. |

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