Naglabas ng summons ang Branch 273 ng Marikina Regional Trial Court upang hingin ang sagot ng TAPE Inc., at GMA Network, Inc. kaugnay ng inihaing copyright infringement at unfair competition complaints nina Tito Sotto, Vic Sotto, Joey de Leon, at Jeny Ferre.
Kaugnay ito ng paggamit ng titulong "Eat Bulaga!".
Sina Tito, Vic, at Joey ang original hosts ng longest-running noontime show sa Pilipinas, ang Eat Bulaga!, na ipinuprodyus ng TAPE at umeere sa GMA-7.
Si Jeny ang dating Executive Vice-President for Production ng TAPE, na pagmamay-ari nina Romeo Jalosjos Sr. at Tony Tuviera.
Ang reklamo ay may docket na SSC Case No. 2023-37-MK.
Nakasaad sa docket ng reklamo, “Copyright Infringement and Unfair Competition under R.A. No. 8293, otherwise known as the Intelectual Property Code of the Philippines, with Application for Issuance of a Writ of Preliminary Injunction.”
Ito naman ang nilalaman ng summon, “GREETINGS. You are hereby required, within thirty (30) days after service of this Summons to file with this court and serve on the plaintiffs, through counsel, you Answer to the Complaint, copy of which is attached together with the answers.
“You are reminded of Rule 2, Section 4 of the 2020 Revised Rules of Procedure for Intellectual Property Rights Cases which proscribed the filing of a motion to dismiss except only on the grounds of lack of jurisdiction over the subject matter, litis pendentia, or res judicata, and instead allege any ground/s other than the ones previously mentioned as defense/s in the Answer.
“If you fail to answer within the time fixed, the court, on motion of the plaintiffs, or motu proprio, render judgement as may be warranted by the allegations in the complaint, as well as the affidavits and other evidence on record.
“WITNESS, the Honorable Judge ROMEO DIZON TAGRA, Presiding Judge of this Court, this 10th of July 2023, at Marikina City, Metro Manila, Philippines."
Pirmado ang naturang summon ni Eunice Bisnar, Acting Court Legal Researcher.
TAPE LAWYER STATEMENT
Ayon naman sa legal counsel ng TAPE na si Atty. Maggie Abraham-Garduque, in-aknowlegde ng Intelectual Property Office (IPO) na sila ang “prior registrant” ng pangalang Eat Bulaga!.
Nakasaad sa statement na ipinadala niya sa Philippine Entertainment Portal (PEP.ph) ngayong Miyerkules ng umaga, July 11, “IPO acknowldeges that TAPE is the prior registrant of Trademark ‘Eat Bulaga,’ advised TAPE to file protection of trademark ownership before the IPO, Bureau of Legal Affairs.
“In a letter reply of IPO to the April 25, 2023 letter of TAPE, Inc., IPO recognized that TAPE, Inc. is the prior registrant of trademark, Eat Bulaga!.
“Said letter was filed by the president and CEO of TAPE, Inc. on April 25 when TAPE learned the March 22, 2023 application of Joey de Leon.”
Ayon pa sa legal counsel ng TAPE, “Yes, it was during that time that TAPE learned that trademarks were filed by TVJ, Tito Sotto, and Joey de Leon on February 27, 2023 and March 22, 2023.
“TAPE promptly asserts its prior ownership thereof being the prior registrant thereof.”
Noong panahong nag-file ang TVJ ng trademark claims, wala pang abogado ang TAPE kaya hindi sila nakapag-file ng tamang application sa IPO.
Pinayuhan din daw ng IPO ang TAPE na kumuha ng abogado.
Hanggang ngayon, ang original theme song ng Eat Bulaga! ang gamit ng noontime show ng TVJ sa TV5 na E.A.T. pero tinanggal ang "Bulaga."
Read: Eat Bulaga! war and how it changes Philippine TV: A Timeline
Wala pang statement ang GMA-7 ukol dito.