From Eat Bulaga to Tahanang Pinakamasaya, Television and Production Exponents Inc. (TAPE) dropped the name after the recent ruling. TVJ claims victory as they were finally able to secure the EB trademark after some months of legal battle. The ruling from Marikina Regional Trial Court recognized them as the originators.

TAPE finally drops Eat Bulaga name for noontime show.

EAT BULAGA – The trio TVJ is finally using this in their show while TAPE finally dropped it and changed their show to Tahanang Pinakamasaya.

Television and Production Exponents Inc. (TAPE) on GMA Network finally drops the “Eat Bulaga” name for their noontime show. This was after Marikina Regional Trial Court released their ruling favoring the trio TVJ or Tito Sotto, Vic Sotto, and Joey De Leon.

TVJ secured the EB trademark as per the ruling that 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, including the specific explanation how such a portmanteau was created, given the millions of words in the dictionary, the court, therefore, rules that plaintiffs have successfully proved and established, by preponderance of evidence, that Joey and his co-plaintiffs Tito and Vic should be credited with the formulation and creation of the mark Eat Bulaga.”

It also furthered that TAPE and GMA are not allowed anymore to use the trademark including the jingle in their show.

A day after this ruling has been released, TAPE reintroduced their noontime show with a brand new name called “Tahanang Pinakamasaya”. The EB trademark, on the other hand, was finally used by the trio, the originators.

In the January 6 episode of “Tahanang Pinakamasaya”, Isko Moreno expressed acknowledgement of the court decision. TAPE’s Facebook page was also changed to “Tahanang Pinakamasaya” title card.

On the same day, TVJ celebrated their victory. They finally used the name and even sang the theme song and the hosts wore t-shirts that bore the show’s name.

“Eto ang totoo. Eto ang tinadhana. Eto ang tunay na ‘Eat Bulaga,’” said Vic.

In the ruling from the Marikina RTC, the statement urged the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL) to cancel the trademark registrations of TAPE from its records. 

As for the GMA, the network clarified that the RTC found them not at any fault or violation. This is because they are just “merely complying with its contractual commitments under its airtime agreement with co-defendant TAPE”.

The broadcast company also assured that they will comply with the directive of the court to not air any replays of EB before May 31, 2023

What can you say about this? Let us know in the comments!