The Court of Appeals (CA) ruled in favor of the iconic comedy trio—Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III, box-office king Vic Sotto, and veteran comedian Joey de Leon—after it junked Television and Production Exponents Inc.’s (TAPE) motion for reconsideration regarding the trademark of the country’s longest-running noontime show, Eat Bulaga!
In a statement released by Senate President Sotto’s office, the court recognized that TVJ are the rightful owners of the show’s title, including its audiovisual recordings, jingles, and even its popular segments.
“The decision upholds the earlier ruling recognizing TVJ as the copyright owners of the materials in question,” Sotto’s office said.
The court also ordered TAPE Inc., owned by the Jalosjos family, to pay damages as follows:
- ₱2 million in temperate damages
- ₱500,000 in exemplary damages
- ₱500,000 in attorney’s fees
It can be recalled that TVJ, along with all co-hosts and several staff of Eat Bulaga!, left TAPE Inc. in 2023 and transferred to TV5, where they continued the program.
In December of the same year, the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL) granted TVJ’s appeal and canceled TAPE Inc.’s trademark registration for Eat Bulaga!.
By January 2024, a Marikina court also ruled in favor of TVJ, declaring them the true and rightful owners of the noontime show’s title.