Image: Facebook/TAPE Inc.
TAPE Inc. said it will carry on using the “Eat Bulaga” name despite the decision of the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPhl), as it stressed that the ruling is not yet final and can still be reversed through their appeal.
“As confirmed by the statement released by IPO today, TAPE has a period of 15 days to appeal the decision of the adjudication officer to the Director of the Bureau of Legal Affairs-IPO. Then, appealed decisions may still be appealed to the Director General of IPO within 30 days,” TAPE’s legal counsel Maggie Abraham-Garduque said in a statement obtained by GMA.
“As regards the plea of TVJ not to use Eat Bulaga, TAPE will continue to use the [name] for its noontime show pending the appeals,” she added.
Abraham-Garduque was referring to the earlier call of original “Eat Bulaga” hosts Tito Sotto, Vic Sotto and Joey de Leon (TVJ) for the production company to respect IPOPhl’s decision—which favors the trio—and refrain from using the “EB” name.
“The appeal will be considered moot and academic if it heeds to the plea of TVJ,” she stressed.
“In the same vein, TAPE likewise hopes that TVJ will not use Eat Bulaga pending the appeals in accordance with the law and rules and wait for the finality of the decision,” she was quoted as saying.
READ: ‘Eat Bulaga’ host Paolo Contis says IPO trademark cancellation not yet final
IPOPhl earlier canceled the trademark registration of production company TAPE after TVJ “proved that [they are] the originator and owner of the contested ‘Eat Bulaga’ mark.”
Further details on the use of the name “Eat Bulaga” and “EB” in the noontime shows’ TV and digital platforms, despite the IPOPhl’s decision, have yet to be disclosed as of this writing.