CA denies TAPE's motion, affirms TVJ as 'Eat Bulaga!' copyright owners

The Court of Appeals (CA) has denied the motion for reconsideration filed by Television and Production Exponents Inc. (TAPE), affirming that TVJ are the rightful copyright owners of the "Eat Bulaga!" audiovisual recordings and jingles.

The CA maintained that TAPE was not the owner of the disputed material, asserting that the production company had utilized the audiovisual recordings and jingles of "Eat Bulaga" without the necessary consent from their creators, TVJ.

The appellate court stated that the entire process of audio-visual recording of the show "Eat Bulaga" emanated from the creative minds of TVJ, making them the copyright owners thereof.

It was also found that TAPE was never involved in nor did it participate in any step of the creative process of the audio-visual recording of the show.

The CA also found that TAPE engaged in bad faith when it filed for the registration of the trademarks of "Eat Bulaga's" names on May 24, 2011.

TAPE Inc. has been ordered by the CA to pay TVJ P2 million in temperate damages, P500,000 in exemplary damages, and P500,000 for attorney's fees.

This decision follows the Intellectual Property Office's (IPOPHL) cancellation of TAPE's "Eat Bulaga" and "EB" trademark registrations in December 2023.

TVJ departed from the program "Eat Bulaga!" on May 31, 2023, due to a dispute with TAPE Inc.