Image: Facebook/TAPE INC.
Television and Production Exponents Inc. (TAPE) filed a petition before the Court of Appeals on Friday, Jan. 19, assailing the decision of the Marikina Regional Trial Court that favored the triumvirate of Tito Sotto, Vic Sotto and Joey de Leon, collectively known as TVJ, over the trademark ownership of “Eat Bulaga.”
“We filed today in the court of appeals our petition for review assailing the decision of RTC 273 of Marikina on the copyright and unfair competition case with WPI,” TAPE’s representative, Atty. Marie Glen Abraham-Garduque, told INQUIRER.net.
On Jan. 5, TVJ announced their triumph over the trademark battle as the Marikina court recognized them as the rightful owners of the title as the court restrained TAPE Inc. and GMA Network from using the trademark, logo and and theme song of “Eat Bulaga!” along with airing the episodes without due permission and authorization.
Following the Marikina court’s ruling, TAPE changed the title of its noontime show from “Eat Bulaga” to “Tahanang Pinakamasaya” even as the Intellectual Property Office (IPO) similarly declared that the network should cancel TAPE’s trademarks for “Eat Bulaga!” and “EB” on all records, including its website.
On Jan. 6, TVJ played the “Eat Bulaga!”‘s theme song on their episode after their victory and presented their new EB logo for the first time since they left GMA and TAPE in May 2023 and began their battle over the trademark.
“Isa lang po ang sinasabi ng batas pati ng mga manonood, isa lang ang pwedeng tawaging, ‘Eat Bulaga!’” Vic remarked. “Isa lang ang pwedeng tawaging, ‘Eat Bulaga!’ at ayun ang ‘Eat Bulaga’ dito sa TV5!”
“Eat Bulaga” is currently airing on TV5 and CNN Philippines, while “Tahanang Pinakamasaya” airs on GMA.