Here’s the stand of GMA after the court ruling favored TVJ as the originators of the Eat Bulaga trademark.
Marikina court recognizes TVJ as originators of ‘Eat Bulaga’ over Television and Production Exponents Inc. (TAPE) and GMA has this statement.
TVJ secured the EB trademark which left Television and Production Exponents Inc. (TAPE) with no choice but to heed the ruling and drop the name. From EB, their program is now called “Tahanang Pinakamasaya”.
Host Isko Moreno acknowledged the court decision that was in favor of Tito Sotto, Vic Sotto and Joey de Leon, known as TVJ.
To recall, TVJ filed copyright infringement and unfair competition case against TAPE and GMA Network and the Marikina court favored them. Now, what is the stand of GMA about this?
The broadcasting company released a statement and stressed that in this legal battle, it underscored itself as a nominal party.
They clarified that the court has not found them violating any law – “that GMA did not commit any act of copyright infringement or unfair competition against the plaintiffs as it was merely complying with its contractual commitments under its airtime agreement with co-defendant TAPE”.
TVJ accordingly did not claim about any damages against them in their complaint.
The statement furthered that they will follow and comply with the directive which is not to air the EB episodes that happened before May 31, 2023. This was the date when TVJ announced their departure from the program and the other hosts followed suit.
“Nevertheless, GMA Network will refer the matter to our external counsel to avail of the proper remedies before the appellate courts.”
See below:
TAPE was also ordered to pay the plaintiffs Php 2 million for “committing unfair competition and copyright infringement”, exemplary damages of Php 500,000; and attorney’s fee of Php 500,000.
Meanwhile, the following day after the court ruling has been released, from EB, TAPE changed the name of the program to “Tahanang Pinakamasaya“. The name EB, on the other hand, was finally used by the TVJ in the program and they even sang the theme song of it and wore shirts that bore that bore the name.
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