TAPE, Inc., the production company linked to the Jalosjos family, remains steadfast in claiming the ownership of the ‘Eat Bulaga’ trademark, countering the association with Joey de Leon, who is credited with conceiving the name.
In a recent press conference conducted by TAPE Inc., the company’s legal counsel, Atty. Maggie Garduque, emphasized that TAPE is the entity that commercially utilized the name, distancing it from the individual contribution of Joey de Leon.
“Assuming po for the sake of argument na si Joey de Leon ang nakaisip po ng pangalang ‘Eat Bulaga’, noon pong time na ‘yon, nung naisip niya ‘yon, wala po siyang business,” clarified Atty. Maggie.
Garduque went on to elaborate, “Ginamit po ang ‘Eat Bulaga’ for the exclusive use of a show that was produced by PSI (Production Specialists, Inc.) before owned by the Jalosjos that which became later on TAPE Incorporated.”
“Masasabi po namin na TAPE Incorporated po ang owner ng trademark na ‘yun kasi kami po ang unang gumamit ng ‘Eat Bulaga’ for business, for a show which is the product na sinasabi,” she affirmed.
While the Bureau of Legal Affairs of the Intellectual Property Office (IPO) recently invalidated TAPE Inc.’s trademark registration for ‘Eat Bulaga’ and ‘EB,’ Garduque clarified that there has been no decision yet prohibiting them from using the show’s name.
“Kung nabasa niyo rin po ang desisyon na inilabas ng adjudication officer ng BLA of IPO, wala rin pong nakalagay doon na dahil sa desisyon na ito ay pinagbabawalan na namin ang TAPE Inc. na gamitin ang Eat Bulaga,'” Garduque added.
Presently, Joey, Vic Sotto, and Tito continue using ‘E.A.T’ for their noontime show on TV5, although they have begun incorporating the original ‘Eat Bulaga’ theme song into their program.
