TAPE Inc. granted renewal of Eat Bulaga trademark

MANILA, Philippines — The Intellectual Property of the Philippines (IPOPHL) has issued a Certificate of Renewal to Television and Production Exponents Inc. (TAPE Inc.) for the “Eat Bulaga” trademark.

In a Philippine Entertainment Portal (pep.ph) article over the weekend, Maggie Abraham-Garduque, counsel of TAPE Inc., confirmed that the production company has received the Certificate of Renewal of Registration for Eat Bulaga. It was renewed on June 14, 2023 and will last until June 14, 2033.

In the certificate, classes 16, 18, 21 and 25 for goods or merchandise items with the EB trademark were granted to TAPE Inc.

“Many are saying that since TAPE Inc.’s Eat Bulaga trademark registration had already expired, it’s already free for all. This is not true,” Garduque said in Filipino and English in the pep.ph report.

“TAPE Inc. renewed its registration, and we are happy that the Certificate of Renewal has been issued, which makes TAPE Inc. the continuous owner of the name ‘Eat Bulaga’ and EB and its logos until 2033. This is important because just like in land ownership, the Certificate of Registration and, in this case, the Certificate of Renewal of TAPE Inc., is the title to prove its ownership over the trademark Eat Bulaga,” she added.

Meanwhile, “E.A.T.” host Joey de Leon posted a cryptic message on his Instagram, captioned, “Sa kanila ang RENEWAL, sa amin ang NUMERAL! Thanks for promoting us for the next TEN years! I’m still with EB, ah ah, not that EB but with Ellen and Barbie!”

De Leon was referring to fellow host Allan K, who portrayed Ellen in one of E.A.T.’s segments, and Paolo Ballesteros, who dressed up like Barbie.

‘Trademark is not copyright’

Trademark is not copyright, former Senate president Vicente Sotto III insisted in the ongoing battle of ownership of the brand name Eat Bulaga between TAPE Inc. and Tito and Vic Sotto and Joey de Leon, more popularly known as TVJ.

Sotto, who is back to his television career as co-host of “E.A.T.” now being aired on TV5, dismissed as misleading the announcement made by TAPE Inc. of having renewed the trademark registration of the name Eat Bulaga, following the IPOPHL issuance of the Certificate of Renewal of Registration for the Eat Bulaga and EB trademarks and logos to the production firm for another 10 years.

“(Trademark is) different from copyright. They are trying to deceive the people,” Sotto pointed out.?“Anyone can file for a trademark, but copyright can never be claimed by anyone other than the creator,” he argued.

The TVJ triumvirate had a bitter parting of ways with TAPE Inc., which produced “Eat Bulaga” for GMA-7, last May 31.

The trio started hosting the show “E.A.T.” on TV5 last July 1.

“Imagine, TAPE Inc. celebrated 44 years daw when they were only established in 1981. Kami yung 1979. If that is not deception, I don’t know what is,” the former Senate president said.

Sotto disclosed that they have a pending petition for the cancellation of TAPE Inc.’s trademark claims. This is a separate case TVJ filed before the Marikina regional trial court against the production company.

“People know the truth in who is the real Eat Bulaga,” he told The STAR.