Television and Production Exponents Inc. (TAPE Inc.) has scored a point in the battle for the Eat Bulaga name after it successfully secured a 10-year certification for its renewal of registration amid its ongoing legal battle with the show’s original hosts Tito Sotto, Vic Sotto, and Joey de Leon, collectively known as TVJ.
The Bureau of Trademarks under the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL) issued a Certificate of Renewal of Registration for the “Eat Bulaga” and “EB” trademarks and logos with TAPE Inc. as the registrant.
These were initially registered on June 14, 2013, and their expiration date was set for June 14, 2023.
The trademarks can now be used by TAPE Inc. until June 14, 2033, as a result of the renewal.
Image by TAPE Inc.
TAPE Inc. lawyer Maggie Abraham-Garduque has confirmed that the company has already secured a renewal for its embattled trademarks amid TVJ’s copyright infringement and unfair competition complaint against the company and GMA Network filed on June 30 following the revamped Eat Bulaga’s decision to air previous episodes of the show without the consent of the legendary trio.
Dapitan City Mayor and TAPE Inc. Chief Finance Officer Seth Frederick “Bullet” Jalosjos also shared the news on his Instagram stories.
Tito, Joey react
The ever vocal former main hosts of the show did not let this development go unnoticed. De Leon took a swipe at their former producer and did it yet again in his signature creative wordplay style.
On Instagram, he posted a photo of himself with Paolo Ballesteros and an image of comedian Allan K in the background. Instead of taking an irate stance, he seems to have found something to be thankful for.
“Sa kanila ang RENEWAL, sa amin ang NUMERAL. 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 said.
Tito Sotto, meanwhile, sent to the media a short but impactful reaction to TAPE Inc.’s trademark renewal, “MAGSAWA sila sa trademark basta amin ang copyright.”
