Television hosts Tito Sotto, Vic Sotto, and Joey De Leon, collectively known as TVJ, have been declared the rightful owners of the “Eat Bulaga” and “EB” trademarks. The Marikina City regional trial court issued a ruling favoring TVJ, echoing a similar decision previously made by the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines.
This triumph follows a five-month legal battle, as revealed in a Facebook statement by TVJ on January 5. The court’s decision, dated December 22, 2023, and received by TVJ’s lawyers from DivinaLaw on January 5, 2024, granted TVJ’s complaint against Television and Production Exponents Inc. (TAPE) and GMA-7. Consequently, TAPE and GMA are now prohibited from using the “EB” and “Eat Bulaga” trademarks, as well as the Eat Bulaga jingle in their shows.
The court’s ruling was based on the finding that Joey De Leon was the creator of the “Eat Bulaga” trademark. TAPE’s failure to explicitly deny De Leon’s claim that he originated the title was a significant factor in the court’s decision. The court stated, “In view of defendant TAPE’s failure to make a categorical and specific denial of the claim of Joey that he coined, formulated, and worded the title Eat Bulaga… the court rules that plaintiffs have successfully proved… that Joey and his co-plaintiffs Tito and Vic should be credited with the formulation and creation of the mark Eat Bulaga.”
Under the 2020 Revised Rules of Procedure for Intellectual Property Rights Cases, the court’s order is immediately enforceable, meaning the decision stands even if TAPE or GMA decide to appeal.