(From left) Allan K, Joey de Leon, Paolo Ballesteros. Image: Instagram/@angpoetnyo
After Television and Production Exponents (TAPE) Inc. successfully renewed “Eat Bulaga’s” trademark registration for another 10 years, Joey de Leon, who is now with the competing noontime show “EAT,” found something to be thankful for.
The Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL) granted TAPE’s application for a Certificate of Renewal of Registration for Eat Bulaga’s trademark. The renewal was made last June 14, 2023 and will be effective until June 14, 2033. The certification was issued amid the latter’s ongoing legal battle with the comedic trio of de Leon and Tito and Vic Sotto (TVJ).
TAPE finance director Bullet Jalosjos also confirmed the production company’s successful renewal on his Instagram Story with the caption, “May awa ang Diyos (The Lord listens to our prayers).”
On his Instagram, de Leon posed for a photo with “EAT” co-host Paolo Ballesteros and an image of Allan K in the background. In his caption, he thanked TAPE for “promoting” them for the next 10 years, even as he took a swipe at the production company for renewing the hotly contested “Eat Bulaga” trademark.
“Sa kanila ang RENEWAL, sa amin ang NUMERAL (The renewal is theirs, but the numbers are ours)! Thanks for promoting us for the next TEN years! I’m still with EB, ah ah, not that EB but with Ellen and Barbie,” he wrote, without mentioning TAPE Inc.
De Leon’s post caught the attention of Ballesteros and his supporters in the comments, with some questioning how TAPE Inc. was able to “steal the [noontime show’s] brand” from TVJ.
Image: Screengrab from Instagram/@angpoetnyo
Image: Screengrab from Instagram/@angpoetnyo
Image: Screengrab from Instagram/@angpoetnyo
Image: Screengrab from Instagram/@angpoetnyo
The veteran host earlier claimed that he was the one who thought of the title “Eat Bulaga” for the noontime show, as he insisted that TVJ is the rightful owner of the noontime show’s trademark and copyright.
TVJ previously filed charges of copyright infringement and unfair competition complaints against TAPE and GMA Network in June, as well as a petition for the issuance of a writ of preliminary injunction to stop the production from using all devices related to the noontime show amid their legal battle which is seemingly far from over. EDV