Eat Bulaga Trademark, TAPE Inc. gets 10-year renewal from Intellectual Property Office

Despite an ongoing legal battle with Tito and Vic Sotto and Joey de Leon, better known as TVJ, The Television and Production Exponents Inc. (TAPE) were able to legally extend the trademark registration of the name “Eat Bulaga,” the name of its noontime program, for an additional 10 years. The “Eat Bulaga” and “EB” trademarks and logos were granted a Certificate of Renewal of Registration by the Bureau of Trademarks of the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL). To learn more, keep reading the article.

Eat Bulaga Trademark

In the midst of the production company’s ongoing legal dispute with the noontime show’s original mainstays Tito Sotto, Vic Sotto, and Joey de Leon, collectively known as TVJ, TAPE Inc. has received the certification of renewal of registration for the “Eat Bulaga” trademark from the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines. With TAPE Inc. listed as the registrant, the trademark registration was renewed on June 14, 2023, and is now valid until June 14, 2033. On Saturday, August 5, a copy of the certificate was made available to the media. Bullet Jalosjos, a TAPE executive, also made this announcement on his Instagram Stories while sharing information about the production company’s “successful” registration renewal.

This occurred in the midst of the comedy trio’s allegations about copyright theft and unfair competition they had made against TAPE and the GMA Network in June. While the copyright infringement and unfair competition action is ongoing, TVJ also filed a petition for the issuance of a writ of preliminary injunction to prevent the TAPE and GMA from using the name, logo, and other devices by the new “Eat Bulaga”.TAPE Attorney Maggie Abraham-Gardugue revealed that the IPOPHL issued the certificate of renewal of registration for “Eat Bulaga” despite TVJ, the former hosts of “Eat Bulaga,” submitting a petition with the government body on June 2 this year seeking to have the trademark canceled.

On May 31, TVJ departed “Eat Bulaga” and TAPE, and on July 1 she began anchoring “E.A.T.” on TV5. On August 4, according to Abraham-Garduque, TAPE obtained the certificate of renewal. “Yes, we did receive the renewal certificate yesterday. Since it has a 10-year term, TAPE Inc. will continue to possess the “Eat Bulaga” trademark through 2033, she explained. On June 14 of last year, the “Eat Bulaga” trademark expired, but TAPE was able to extend its registration. Romeo Jalosjos, CEO and president of TAPE, stated in a letter to IPOPHL in April that “since 1991, the name ‘EAT BULAGA’ has already been registered as a Trademark and an Intellectual Property of our company, Television and Production Exponents Inc.” after De Leon submitted an application to register the ‘Eat Bulaga’ trademark.