TAPE to appeal IPOPHL ruling on ‘Eat Bulaga’ trademark

The Television and Production Exponents (TAPE), Inc. said it will appeal the ruling of the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPhl) dismissing its trademark registration for “Eat Bulaga” in favor of its erstwhile hosts, Tito and Vic Sotto, and Joey de Leon, collectively known as TVJ.

Atty Maggie Garduque, counsel for TAPE said the production outfit has yet to receive a copy of the IPOPhl’ Bureau of Legal Affairs’ decision, but based on reports, it will likely file a motion for reconsideration.

“If this is true, under the rules, TAPE can appeal this decision to the director of the BLA of IPO,” Garduque told INQUIRER.net in an online interview.

Garduque said TAPE will exert all efforts to appeal to the IPOPhl’s ruling.

“If still unsatisfied with the decision of the director, they (TAPE) can still appeal it to the director general of the IPO. TAPE will avail of all legal actions/remedies to reverse this decision.” she declared. 

In a statement dated Dec. 4, the IPOPhl Bureau of Legal Affairs’ recognized the position of former “Eat Bulaga” hosts as the rightful owners of the trademark, given the testimony and explanation of how the whole “Eat Bulaga” trademark came to be.

“The petitioners proved that it is the originator and owner of the contested EAT BULAGA mark. Petitioners’ explanation or story on how initially the idea of the EAT BULAGA mark came about did seem believable and credible,” wrote IPOPhl.