The lawyer of Tito Sotto, Vic Sotto, and Joey de Leon, Atty. Buko Dela Cruz, expressed his happiness after they won the trademark complaint they filed against Television and Production Exponents (TAPE) Inc.
In an interview with MJ Marfori, Atty. Dela Cruz said that the decision of the Intellectual Property of the Philippines (IPOPHIL) to remove the trademark rights of TAPE Inc. over Eat Bulaga branding was an early Christmas gift for them.
“Talagang tunay na maligaya ang Pasko natin dahil sinabi ngayon ng adjudicator ng IPO na ang tunay na may-ari ng markang Eat Bulaga ay ang Tito, Vic, and Joey,” said Dela Cruz.
“Panalo ang Dabarkads sa araw na ‘to,” he added.
However, the lawyer said that it would be too early to celebrate as TAPE might appeal the finding and they could still use the Eat Bulaga branding while waiting for the decision.
On December 5, 2023, IPOPHL said that TAPE Inc. failed to prove that they invented the term Eat Bulaga, which was popularly believed to have been coined by Joey.
According to the decision, Joey was the one who suggested the title ‘Eat Bulaga’ to the former chairman of TAPE Inc., Romeo Jalosjos Sr. and the latter approved it.