THE Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines has denied TAPE Inc.’s registration of the ‘Eat Bulaga’ mark opposing Joey de Leon’s registration of the name for entertainment services.
This was according to abogado Enrique “Buko” Dela Cruz, who represents the “TVJ” hosts composed of De Leon, Tito Sotto, and Vic Sotto.
In an interview with News5, Dela Cruz said TAPE Inc.’s original registration of “Eat Bulaga”— which was ordered canceled recently— only covers items under Class 16, 18, 21, and 25 of the Nice Classification, or the international classification of goods and services for trademark registration, as published on abogado.ph.
The goods under Class 16, 18, 21, and 25 are paper products, leather items, household items, and clothes.
De Leon applied to trademark “Eat Bulaga” under Classification 41, which includes education, training, and entertainment services.
Dela Cruz said TAPE Inc. opposed De Leon’s application, but this opposition was denied.
TAPE appealed the decision to the IPOPHL’s Bureau of Legal Affairs, which dismissed its plea, he said.
He said this is another reason that supports TVJ’s use of “Eat Bulaga.”
“Wala na po talagang hadlang para gamitin ng TVJ yung Eat Bulaga at yung EB na marks,” he said.
Dela Cruz announced the denial of TAPE Inc.’s appeal came after the IPOPHL granted TVJ’s separate petition to cancel TAPE’s trademark registration of “Eat Bulaga” under Class 16, 21, and 25.
But TAPE Inc. plans to appeal this cancelation order, and said it would continue to use “Eat Bulaga” while the appeal is pending so as not to render it moot.
The TVJ hosts also have a pending petition before the Marikina regional trial court asking for an injunction to stop TAPE Inc. from using “Eat Bulaga.”
