In a recent development, a former writer of the long-running noontime show ‘Eat Bulaga’ has come forward with a serious allegation against TAPE, Inc., the production company behind the show.
Jerricho Sison Calingal claims that the show copied his concept and segment name, causing him to file a complaint with regards to his intellectual property.
According to Calingal, he was the mastermind behind the concept and name of the segment known as ‘EB Happy.’ He further asserts that he took the necessary steps to protect his creation by filing for copyright registration with the Intellectual Property of the Philippines.
Taking to social media, Calingal made a plea to TAPE, Inc., demanding them to cease using the title ‘EB Happy,’ as it belongs to him, along with its associated format. He urged the other writers of ‘Eat Bulaga’ to brainstorm new names and formats for the segment, stressing the importance of respecting intellectual property rights.
Adding more details to the story, Calingal disclosed that he was hired by ‘Eat Bulaga’ to work as a writer for one of their weekly segments. The management’s initial idea was to create a segment similar to ‘BULAGAAN,’ featuring singing and comedy elements. However, they requested him to come up with a new and innovative title for the segment.
‘EB Happy’ was Calingal’s brainchild, and it was eventually chosen as the segment’s final title. However, to his surprise, he was suddenly halted from writing the script for ‘EB Happy,’ and the segment aired without his involvement.
Seeking a resolution to the matter, Calingal appealed to TAPE, Inc. to change the name of the segment, indicating that he doesn’t object to the show continuing the segment as long as they respect his intellectual property rights. His understanding was that the title ‘EB Happy’ would only be used when he and his team wrote the segment every Saturday.
As of now, TAPE, Inc. has not issued any official response to the serious allegations made by Calingal. The public awaits their statement and the outcome of the complaint, as it sheds light on the importance of respecting original creations and protecting intellectual property in the media industry.
