IT what can be seen as a victory for Tito Sotto, Vic Sotto and Joey de Leon, a Marikina Regional Trial Court has enjoined the Television and Production Exponents, Inc. (TAPE) as well as GMA Network from using “Eat Bulaga,” “EB,” and “Eat Bulaga and EB.” 

According to the dispositive portion of the ruling, it likewise enjoined the defendants from using the Eat Bulaga jingle/song, or any part of it in their shows, programs, projects, and even in promotions.

It also halted the airing and broadcasting of any and all recorded episodes of Eat Bulaga before May 31.

The camp of TVJ noted that the RTC decision, dated December 22, 2023 gave credence to De Leon as the creator of the trademark “Eat Bulaga,” having found that TAPE failed to categorically deny De Leon’s claim that he was the one who formulated it.

The camp of TAPE, through legal counsel Atty. Maggie Garduque said they already saw the decision.

“Initial reaction, among others, we were surprised that the court ruled on trademark and trademark infringement when the case pending in court is copyright infringement. We will definitely file an appeal to this decision,” Garduque was quoted as saying.

“There is nothing in the decision which states that since there is injunction issued to tape, TVJ can now use the trademark EB and Eat Bulaga especially that the trademark ownership is still under appeal before the IPO,” she added. 

Courtesy: TAPE, Inc.

Not to be deterred, the noontime show of GMA-7 launched the Tahanang Pinamakasaya title as a replacement for “Eat Bulaga.”