TVJ uses 'Eat Bulaga' again, TAPE renames show after court ruling

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 6) — Tito Sotto, Vic Sotto, and Joey de Leon and the rest of the "Dabarkads" sang together live the original theme song of "Eat Bulaga!" on Saturday after the court affirmed that the popular trio owns the trademarks "Eat Bulaga!" and "EB."

The hosts of the TV5 noontime show formerly titled E.A.T. wore shirts with the "Eat Bulaga!" logo, and with an LCD screen in the background bearing the title "EAT...Bulaga!" during their Jan. 6 episode.

"Ito naman po ay hindi lang laban para sa pamagat o title. Laban po ito para sa programang minahal namin at minahal ninyong lahat," a teary-eyed Vic Sotto told the audience.

[Translation: This is not just a battle for title. This is also a fight for a program that we all loved.]

"Sa naging desisyon ng korte, makakapagpatuloy pa rin naman ang lahat sa paghahatid ng kasiyahan sa mga manonood sa patas at payapang paraan," he added.

[Translation: With the court’s decision, everyone can still bring joy to the audience in a fair and peaceful way.]

The Marikina Regional Trial Court Branch 273 sided with TVJ in the copyright infringement and unfair competition case they filed against Television and Production Exponents Inc. (TAPE) and GMA Network (GMA-7).

The Dec. 22 ruling stated that TAPE and GMA-7 are prohibited from using "Eat Bulaga" and "EB," as well as the popular noontime show’s jingle.

They were also barred from airing and broadcasting playback of all recorded episodes of the show before May 31, 2023.

The Intellectual Property Office also previously granted TVJ’s petition to cancel the certificate of registration issued to TAPE in 2013.

Hence, TAPE had to rename the title of its noontime show on GMA-7 to "Tahanang Pinakamasaya."

"May balita tayong natanggap kahapon, kaya tayo susunod tayo sa desisyon ng korte," said host Isko Moreno on Saturday.

[Translation: We received a news yesterday, so we must follow the court's decision.]

Although the court ruling found that GMA-7 did not commit any acts of copyright infringement as it was only complying with the airtime agreement with TAPE, the television network said it will abide with the court's decision on the airing of the noontime show in all its platforms.

The long-time hosts of "Eat Bulaga!" – which also include Jose Manalo, Wally Bayola, Paolo Ballesteros, Maine Mendoza, Ryzza Mae Dizon, and Ryan Agoncillo – resigned from TAPE in May last year, citing mistrust of the new management as one of their reasons.

They later moved to TV5 after signing an agreement with Mediaquest Group.