TAPE, Inc. trademark for ‘Eat Bulaga,’ renewed

The information made rounds on Saturday morning.

In a document shared by TAPE’s legal counsel, Atty. Maggie Abraham-Garduque, it is seen that Television and Productions Exponents, Inc. — TAPE’s official business name — has renewed the trademark for the name ‘Eat Bulaga’. Filed before the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines or IPOPHL, the renewal covers sections 16, 18, 21, and 25.

As per rule, section 16 is for “paper, cardboard and goods made from these materials, not included in other classes; printed matter; bookbinding material; photographs; stationery; adhesives for stationery or household purposes; artist materials; paint brushes; typewriters and office requisites (except furniture); instructional and teaching materials (except apparatus); plastic materials for packaging (not included in other classes); printers` type; printing blocks.” 18 covers “animal skins, hides; trunks and traveling bags; umbrellas, parasols and walking sticks; whips, harness and saddlery.”

21, meanwhile, gives them rights to use the name for “household or kitchen utensils and containers; combs and sponges; brushes (except paint brushes); brush-making materials; articles for cleaning purposes; steelwool; unworked or semi-worked glass (except glass used in building); glassware, porcelain and earthenware not included in other classes.”

Detailed in section 25 are “clothing, namely, jackets, coats, vests, t-shirts (with/without collar), polo shirts, blouses, jerseys or sports t-shirts, sandos or tank tops, shorts, pants, jeans, dresses, skirts, scarves, shawls, bandanas and belts; footwear, namely, slippers or flip-flops, sneakers, shoes, sandals, slip-on socks headgear, namely, caps, hats, visors, headbands, bonnets, scarves, bandanas, clips, ribbons, hoods, masks, turban, crowns, veils and headcover.”

The renewal of TAPE’s registration is dated June 14, 2023 and will last for 10 years on until June 14, 2023. It was first filed in May 2011 and registered on June 14, 2013.

According to the World Intellectual Property Office database, a certain Marvic Sotto — otherwise known as TV personality Vic Sotto — has filed for registration for the use of trademark last February. Still pending, but Sotto filed for the similar sections as TAPE — 16, 18, 21, and 25. The difference is, he also filed for section 41, which covers entertainment services, which primarily includes television shows.

Similarly, fellow TVJ member Joey de Leon, using his real name Jose Maria de Leon, also filed a trademark for the name ‘Eat Bulaga’. In de Leon’s filing, he only specified section 41 or entertainment services. Like Sotto, his case still remains pending before the IPO. The status is said to be “for further action by examiner,” as of July 5, 2023.

The fight for the ‘Eat Bulaga’ title has also reached the courtroom, when the TVJ camp filed a “copyright infringment and unfair competition” complaint versus TAPE, Inc. and host network GMA Network on June 30, 2023. The case is still ongoing at the Marikina Regional Trial Court.

The battle began earlier this year, when several internal problems between the new TAPE management and then-‘Eat Bulaga’ production team led by Tito, Vic, and Joey arose. It later climaxed in the departure of the trio and the rest of their ‘Dabarkads’ co-hosts from TAPE, Inc. on May 31, 2023. On June 6, TAPE relaunched ‘EB’ with new hosts, while TVJ jumped ship to TV5 for ‘E.A.T.,’ which began airing on July 1, 2023.

Recently, on July 29, both ‘Eat Bulaga’ and ‘E.A.T.’ celebrated 44 years on-air. For ‘EB,’ it is said to be the show’s age, while TVJ referred to their celebration as day for “friendship.”