'Legit Dabarkads' use 'Eat Bulaga!' in TVJ show's title card, sing EB theme song after copyright case win
"Isa lang ang puwedeng tawaging 'Eat Bulaga!'"
That's what Vic Sotto said after singing the GMA noontime show's theme song and using its title card on the TVJ program on TV5 on Saturday, Jan. 6—a day after announcing their win in the copyright infringement and unfair competition case that he, along with Tito Sotto and Joey De Leon, filed against TAPE Inc. and GMA Network.
BUONG BANSA....
— TVJ Productions Inc. (@Official_TVJ) January 6, 2024
EAT BULAGA! pic.twitter.com/ac3xyiGZiO
"Napakahalaga po para sa amin at sa ating lahat ang araw na ito. Unang-una, maraming salamat sa Panginoong Diyos sa pagbibigay sa amin ng lakas para 'wag isuko ang laban namin para sa katotohanan. Maraming salamat sa Panginoong Diyos at nakamit na natin ang matagal na nating ipinapanalangin," Tito said after their introduction as he talked about the ruling.
"Ibig sabihin din po niyan ay nanalo po tayo. Tayo po ay sumunod sa batas at kumapit sa katotohanan. Isa lang po ang sinasabi ng batas pati ng mga manonood: Isa lang ang puwedeng tawaging 'Eat Bulaga!' at 'yun ang Eat Bulaga! dito sa TV5," Vic said, drawing cheers from the crowd.
"Hindi naman puwedeng hindi kami magpasalamat sa lahat. Maraming salamat sa inyong lahat na naniniwala, sumusuporta, at sumama sa amin sa laban na ito," Joey added.
Mula sa bumubuo ng Eat Bulaga, 14344 DABARKADS! ❤️ pic.twitter.com/NhBjkF14FH
— TVJ Productions Inc. (@Official_TVJ) January 6, 2024
TVJ revealed their copyright case win in a live announcement on Facebook on Friday, Jan. 5 where Tito read the resolution, which means they can now reuse the trademarks and jingles in their noontime show.
The court's ruling urges TAPE and GMA to stop using the trademarks "EB" and "Eat Bulaga!" as well as all the logos and jingles associated with its shows, programs, projects, or promotions. Replaying past episodes, clips, and segments of Eat Bulaga from before TVJ parted ways with TAPE on May 31 is also not allowed.
TAPE and GMA have yet to respond to the resolution.
The Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines revoked the trademark registration of TAPE for the names "Eat Bulaga!" and "EB" in early December, ruling that the "petitioners’ explanation or story on how initially the idea of the Eat Bulaga mark came about did seem believable and credible."
TVJ first announced they have parted ways with the EB producers last May 31 after rumors of an Eat Bulaga rebranding—and the trio getting fired—broke out amid financial losses. After the announcement, staff members, including hosts, writers, sales, production, and cameramen, tendered their resignation.
Eat Bulaga! went on with its live airing and introduced a new set of hosts on June 5, while TVJ and other Dabarkads joined TV5 and aired their new show E.A.T. on July 1.