CELEX: 62019TA0834
Language: en
Date: 2021-09-01 00:00:00
Title: Case T-834/19: Judgment of the General Court of 1 September 2021 — e*Message Wireless Information Services v EUIPO — Apple (e*message) (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)

18.10.2021   
            
            
               EN
            
            
               Official Journal of the European Union
            
            
               C 422/12
            
         
      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)
      (2021/C 422/16)
      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:
      
                  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.
               
            
         (1)  OJ C 45, 10.2.2020.