The Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines on Tuesday sided with the entertainment trio of Tito, Vic and Joey, or former Senator Vicente Sotto III, his brother Vic and Joey de Leon, in their petition to dismiss the trademark registration of Television and Production Exponents Inc., or TAPE Inc. for the names “Eat Bulaga” and “EB.”

In a decision on 4 December, the IPOPHL ruled that the triumvirate are the rightful owners of the Eat Bulaga trademark, giving weight to the testimony and explanation that was provided by the two Sottos and De Leon.

“The petitioners proved that it is the originator and owner of the contested EAT BULAGA mark. Petitioners’ explanation or story on how initially the idea of the EAT BULAGA mark came about did seem believable and credible,” wrote IPOPHL in a statement.

In a separate interview, Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines Director General Atty. Rowel Barba disclosed that even though they have decided to cancel the trademark registration of TAPE Inc. for the names Eat Bulaga and EB, the case is still appealable to the director of the Bureau of Legal Affairs, as well as at the Office of the Director General.

But Barba said they cannot make comments on the merits of the case.

Also asked for its reaction, Atty. Maggie Abraham-Garduque, Corporate Legal Counsel of TAPE Inc. said, “We have not received a copy of the said decision yet.”

“Under the rules, TAPE has a period of 10 days from the receipt of the decision to appeal the said decision to the director of the bureau of legal affairs of the IPOPHL,” said Abraham-Garduque.

In June 2023, IPOPHL confirmed the approval of the request to extend the term of registration over EAT BULAGA and EB covered by TM Reg. No. 42011005951, for Nice Classes 16, 18, 21, and 25 for another 10 years.

On 31 May, TVJ ended its 44 years of partnership with TAPE Inc.

Amid the fracas, TVJ and their fellow former co-hosts of Eat Bulaga transferred to the TV 5 network, operated by Manny Pangilinan, and started their new program E.A.T. last 1 July.

TAPE Inc., meanwhile, retained its program title Eat Bulaga on GMA-7 with a new set of hosts.