TVJ Wins Copyright Infringement Case Versus TAPE, GMA

TVJ scores another win against TAPE Inc.

Iconic TVJ trio, composed of Tito Sotto, Vic Sotto, and Joey de Leon, won the unfair competition and copyright infringement complaint they filed against TAPE Inc. and GMA Network.



After the trio resigned from TAPE and their co-hosts joined them, the legal battle started between them and the production company behind the longest-running noontime show Eat Bulaga for many years.

The trio stressed that they were the ones who had the right to use “Eat Bulaga” as it was Joey who came up with the title of their show.

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When TVJ transferred to TV5, they opted for the title E.A.T. since TAPE Inc. was still using that for its show airing on GMA for a while. Eventually, the court sided with the trio and stated that the show of Tito, Vic, and Joey had the right to use the title after they secured the trademark.

In a decision late last year, based on the article in Inquirer Biz Buzz, the trio once again won against TAPE and GMA. The Court of Appeals (CA) stated that it was the TVJ who has the right over the “Eat Bulaga!” trademark and intellectual property.

It was in July 2023 when the trio filed the complaint as TAPE continued using Eat Bulaga as a title and its logo.

CA denied the plea of TAPE and GMA Network to review the decision earlier handed down by the Regional Trial Court.

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The prior decision granted the complaint for unfair competition and copyright infringement filed by Vicente “Tito” Castelo Sotto III, Marvic “Vic” Castelo Sotto, Jose Ma. “Joey” Ramos De Leon, and TVJ Productions Inc. head of creatives and vice president Jeny Perea Ferre.

“The exclusive rights of scientists, inventors as well as artists and gifted citizens—like respondents Tito, Vic, Joey and Jeny—over their intellectual property and creations must be protected and secured,” CA stressed in its statement.

In a message sent to Inquirer Biz Buzz, Tito Sotto said regarding their win, “We owe everything to God and to those who have supported us all these years.”