The Kapuso network issued the following statement on Saturday.
In a press release on Saturday, January 6, GMA Network publicly stated their position on the case filed by the camp of Tito Sotto, Vic Sotto, and Joey de Leon versus the network and Television and Production Exponents, Inc. or TAPE.
GMA said: “For accuracy and clarity of the public, the Regional Trial Court clearly found that GMA did not commit any act of copyright infringement or unfair competition against the plaintiffs as it was merely complying with its contractual commitments under its airtime agreement with co-defendant TAPE.”
“In fact, the Court found that GMA was a mere nominal party to TVJ’s suit. And the latter never claimed any damages in their complaint against GMA,” the Kapuso network added.
The network also stated that they will abide by the court order, as they “will comply with the directive of the Court on the airing of Eat Bulaga episodes in our platforms.”
“Nonetheless, GMA Network will refer the matter to our external counsel to avail of the proper remedies before the appellate courts,” the media giant ended their statement.
The case GMA is referring to is the copyright infringement and unfair competition complaints filed by TVJ versus the broadcast company and TAPE.
In a court order dated December 22, 2023 and released on Friday, January 5, 2024, Branch 273 of the Marikina Regional Trial Court sided with the TVJ group.
The said directive also stipulated that it is ordering both TAPE, Inc. and GMA Network to stop using the trademarks ‘Eat Bulaga’ and ‘EB,’ playing the iconic ‘Eat Bulaga’ theme song, as well as rebroadcasting episodes from before May 31, 2023.
The defendants were also directed to pay damages and attorney fees incurred by the plaintiffs.
Marikina RTC Branch 273 also directed the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL) to cancel all trademark registration of TAPE, Inc. for the marks ‘Eat Bulaga’ and ‘EB’.
The IPOPHL has since canceled TAPE’s registration, which covered sections 16, 18, 21, and 25, last December.
The same authority has also likewise granted the trademark application of Joey de Leon for the marks ‘Eat Bulaga’ and ‘EB,’ under section 41 of the Intellectual Property code.
The court also dismissed the counter claims of TAPE and GMA due to “lack of merit.”
After the decision came out, TAPE said through its legal counsel that they will be appealing the case.
However, in respect of the order that stops the defendants from using ‘Eat Bulaga,’ the TAPE-produced noontime show on GMA-7 today was formally retitled ‘Tahanang Pinakamasaya’.