MANILA, Philippines – The Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHIL) has canceled and invalidated the Trademark Registration of Television and Production Exponents (TAPE), Inc. for the title "Eat Bulaga!" on December 4, 2023.
It can be recalled that in August, TAPE presented a receipt indicating they had renewed the Eat Bulaga trademark with IPOPHIL before the filing of the complaint by the petitioners, namely Tito Sotto, Vic Sotto, and Joey De Leon, collectively known as TVJ.
According to TAPE's legal counsel, Atty. Maggie Abraham-Garduque, their camp received the Certificate of Renewal of Registration for the Eat Bulaga! trademark on August 4. The validity of the registration extends until 2033.
“Yes, we received the certificate of renewal yesterday. Since it has a term of 10 years, TAPE, Inc. owns the trademark of ‘Eat Bulaga’ until 2033,” the lawyer said in an interview.
It expired on June 14, but the production company promptly renewed it.
“Marami kasi ang nagsasabi na since nag expire ang registration ng TAPE sa ‘Eat Bulaga’ trademark, free for all na ito. This is not true. TAPE Inc. renewed its registration and we are happy na na-issue na ang certificate of renewal which makes TAPE Inc. the continuous owner of trademark ‘Eat Bulaga’ until 2033,” she added.
“Importante ito kasi kung baga sa lupa ang certificate of registration and in this case certificate of renewal of TAPE Inc ay ang titulo nya to prove its ownership over the trademark ‘Eat Bulaga.’”
“From the start IPO recognized TAPE Inc. as the prior registrant of ‘Eat Bulaga’ trademark. This renewal is a testament that TAPE was and remains the registered owner of the trademark ‘Eat Bulaga.”
This happened despite the case filed by Tito Sotto, Vic Sotto, and Joey de Leon, or TVJ, against TAPE and GMA Network to cancel TAPE's trademark registration for the "Eat Bulaga!" title and its logo.
After several months, it appears that IPOPHIL sided with TVJ.
“Respondent-Registrant TAPE Inc.’s existing trademark registrations over the marks ‘Eat Bulaga and EB’ and ‘EB’ should be canceled as they were obtained in contravention of the provisions of R.A. No. 8293 or the Intellectual Property Code of the Philippines (IP Code),” IPOPHIL said.
“Having sufficiently established how Petitioners coined the EAT BULAGA mark, it is Petitioners and not Respondent-Registrant who owns the mark.”
“Considering that Petitioners are the owners, they have absolute and exclusive right to register the EAT BULAGA mark and all variations thereto, including the Subject mark and the EB mark, under its name…”
“WHEREFORE, premises considered, the instant Petition for Cancellation is hereby GRANTED.”
It is signed by Atty. Josephine C. Alon in Taguig City.
Meanwhile, on the official Facebook page of TVJ, their renewed use of the title "Eat Bulaga" can be seen, signaling their celebration of this development.
“Isang libo’t isang tuwa, buong bansa…. buong mundo.… Eat Bulaga!” it can be read.
On May 31, TVJ parted ways with TAPE, the producer of "Eat Bulaga" and blocktimer on GMA-7.
The TVJ camp then moved to TV5 and hosted a program by the name of “E.A.T.”
— Richard, The Summit Express
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| Photo courtesy: Facebook / TVJ |
It can be recalled that in August, TAPE presented a receipt indicating they had renewed the Eat Bulaga trademark with IPOPHIL before the filing of the complaint by the petitioners, namely Tito Sotto, Vic Sotto, and Joey De Leon, collectively known as TVJ.
According to TAPE's legal counsel, Atty. Maggie Abraham-Garduque, their camp received the Certificate of Renewal of Registration for the Eat Bulaga! trademark on August 4. The validity of the registration extends until 2033.
“Yes, we received the certificate of renewal yesterday. Since it has a term of 10 years, TAPE, Inc. owns the trademark of ‘Eat Bulaga’ until 2033,” the lawyer said in an interview.
It expired on June 14, but the production company promptly renewed it.
“Marami kasi ang nagsasabi na since nag expire ang registration ng TAPE sa ‘Eat Bulaga’ trademark, free for all na ito. This is not true. TAPE Inc. renewed its registration and we are happy na na-issue na ang certificate of renewal which makes TAPE Inc. the continuous owner of trademark ‘Eat Bulaga’ until 2033,” she added.
“Importante ito kasi kung baga sa lupa ang certificate of registration and in this case certificate of renewal of TAPE Inc ay ang titulo nya to prove its ownership over the trademark ‘Eat Bulaga.’”
“From the start IPO recognized TAPE Inc. as the prior registrant of ‘Eat Bulaga’ trademark. This renewal is a testament that TAPE was and remains the registered owner of the trademark ‘Eat Bulaga.”
This happened despite the case filed by Tito Sotto, Vic Sotto, and Joey de Leon, or TVJ, against TAPE and GMA Network to cancel TAPE's trademark registration for the "Eat Bulaga!" title and its logo.
After several months, it appears that IPOPHIL sided with TVJ.
“Respondent-Registrant TAPE Inc.’s existing trademark registrations over the marks ‘Eat Bulaga and EB’ and ‘EB’ should be canceled as they were obtained in contravention of the provisions of R.A. No. 8293 or the Intellectual Property Code of the Philippines (IP Code),” IPOPHIL said.
“Having sufficiently established how Petitioners coined the EAT BULAGA mark, it is Petitioners and not Respondent-Registrant who owns the mark.”
“Considering that Petitioners are the owners, they have absolute and exclusive right to register the EAT BULAGA mark and all variations thereto, including the Subject mark and the EB mark, under its name…”
“WHEREFORE, premises considered, the instant Petition for Cancellation is hereby GRANTED.”
It is signed by Atty. Josephine C. Alon in Taguig City.
Meanwhile, on the official Facebook page of TVJ, their renewed use of the title "Eat Bulaga" can be seen, signaling their celebration of this development.
“Isang libo’t isang tuwa, buong bansa…. buong mundo.… Eat Bulaga!” it can be read.
On May 31, TVJ parted ways with TAPE, the producer of "Eat Bulaga" and blocktimer on GMA-7.
The TVJ camp then moved to TV5 and hosted a program by the name of “E.A.T.”
— Richard, The Summit Express
