The Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL) on Wednesday, Dec. 6, confirmed that it canceled the "Eat Bulaga" and "EB" trademark registration of Television and Production Exponents (TAPE) Inc.
In a statement, IPOPHL said the Adjudication Officer granted the petition to cancel TAPE's Eat Bulaga trademark registration last Dec. 4.
"On recent queries regarding the cancellation of the Trademark Registration of Television and Production Exponents Inc. (TAPE) registration the "EAT BULAGA" and "EB" trademark No. 4-2011-005951 and No. 4-2011-005950, respectively, IPOPHL confirms that the petitions for cancellation were granted last December 4, and was promptly served to the parties on December 5, 2023," it said.
TAPE Inc. can appeal to the decision of the Adjudication Officer before the Bureau of Legal Affairs "within 15 days from receipt of the decisions."
"In turn, the appellate decisions of the BLA Director may be appealed to the IPOHL Director General within 30 days from receipt of the copy of the BLA Director's decision," IPOPHL added.
The cancelation of TAPE's trademark registration meant that Tito Sotto, Vic Sotto, and Joey De Leon, often called as TVJ, are the rightful owners and originators of the "Eat Bulaga" and "EB" trademarks.
In a press conference, TVJ expressed their gratitude for the IPOL's decision.
"Indeed, the truth will always prevail [...] TAPE failed to prove that they conceptualized "EAT Bulaga" and "EB". It is Joey who created and coined and created these marks in 1979 in my kitchen in my place," Tito said.
"TAPE Inc. did not even refute or contradict our narration of the origin of the marks. In fact, they coraborated with our claims when they said Rommy Halohos only chose among the names given to him. Thus, IPOL finds our position believable, credible, and strong against TAPE's registration," he added.
Tito underscored that TAPE Inc. should not "profit the business built by TVJ for so how many decades."
"It is a milestone and a welcoming development to our legal claims. We express our heartfelt thanks to our Lord, our God, to our family, and to all solid DABARKADS who are with us in this journey," he furthered.
