The rebranded version of Eat Bulaga already released its version of ‘Pinoy Henyo’ with a different title from the popular segment.
On June 30, 2023, episode of the controversial noontime show, they introduced ‘Word of the Rings,’ a gameshow similar to ‘Pinoy Henyo’ that claimed to be owned by former Eat Bulaga writers who left the program last month.
Paolo Contis is now leading the segment previously hosted by Vic Sotto.
Several guest celebrities played the iconic segment, a popular parlor game among Filipinos.
Fans of former Eat Bulaga Dabarkads expressed disappointment and accused Television and Production Exponents Inc. (TAPE Inc.) of copying Pinoy Henyo.
However, defenders of the rebranded version of Eat Bulaga reminded the netizens that TAPE Inc. owned the ‘Pinoy Henyo’ trademark until 2032.
It can be recalled that Tito Sotto insisted that Eat Bulaga’s popular segments, including ‘Pinoy Henyo,’ were owned by the writers.
“When you create something, at the moment of creation, you are the owner,” Sotto, a lawyer and legislator, said.
But TAPE argued that they’re paying their writers to be ‘creative’ and all the creations made by their staff during their period as Eat Bulaga employees were owned by the production company.
“Huwag na natin pahirapan pa. Yung mga writers ng isang show, puwede ba nila i-claim na sa kanila na yun while they’re being paid salaries, allowances? While you’re being paid to be [a] creative, and then what you created is yours? Is that right?” one of TAPE Inc. executives explained.