(From left) Tito Sotto, Vic Sotto, Joey de Leon. Picture: Fb/TVJ
Although Tito Sotto, Vic Sotto, and Joey de Leon — collectively often called TVJ — stay agency of their “proper” to the “Eat Bulaga” brandname, their camp famous that their authorized battle in opposition to Tv and Manufacturing Exponents (TAPE) is “not in regards to the cash,” however quite the efforts they constructed for the previous 4 a long time.
In a press convention on the set of their “EAT” noontime program on Dec. 5, TVJ’s lead counsel Enrique dela Cruz clarified that TVJ’s purpose of reinforcing the possession of the “Eat Bulaga” and “EB” trademark is in regards to the comedy trio’s rights as creators and originators of the trademark.
“Pinapili namin ang TVJ, anong gusto niyong purpose or goal. Pagbayarin natin sila sa [royalties at paggamit] ng inyong mga nilikha or ipahinto natin sila? Sabi nina Tito Sen, it’s not in regards to the cash. Hindi pera ang habol,” dela Cruz mentioned, recalling how they selected the target of their authorized battle in opposition to TAPE.
“Walang declare on the royalties or paggamit ng [pangalan]. Wag na lang gamitin. ‘Yan ang goal ng kaso. Injunction. Ipahinto ang hindi awtorisadong paggamit,” he continued.
(We requested TVJ to decide on their purpose or goal. Ask them to settle the charges of the royalties and using their creations with out their consent, or cease them for good. Tito mentioned, it’s not in regards to the cash. They’re not after the cash. We don’t have any declare or use of the ‘Eat Bulaga’ identify in opposition to them. Simply don’t use it. That’s the target of our case. Cease the unauthorized use of it.)
With this in thoughts, Dela Cruz mentioned the faces of Tito, Vic, and Joey are apparently seen on the erstwhile platforms, as he asserted that they’re not linked with the manufacturing firm anymore.
“Till not too long ago, ‘yung mga mukha nilang tatlo, nasa web site pa ng kabilang community. Mukha nila, tapos thumbnail, gamit sila. Ang pakiusap, wag gamitin kasi hindi sila linked. Ang hinihingi naming danyos is ‘yung paggamit at pag-reclaim ng mga exhibits na sila pa ‘yung hosts,” he mentioned.
(Till not too long ago, the faces of the three of them may be seen on the web site of the rival community. Even the thumbnails, they’re getting used. Our plea is to not use it as a result of they’re not linked. What we’re asking for is the use and reclaiming of the exhibits whereby they’re nonetheless the hosts.)
Formally acknowledged by legislation
Because the Mental Property Workplace (IPOPhl) declared that TVJ are the rightful homeowners of the brandname, Tito mentioned he feels “vindicated” with the ruling whereas Joey and Vic are completely satisfied the choice was made of their favor.
“We knew that we had the precise to it. We knew that Joey created it. We nurtured it. We fostered all of it all through these years,” the elder Sotto mentioned, saying de Leon created the identify in his White Plains kitchen in 1979.
Regardless of being “formally acknowledged by legislation,” dela Cruz mentioned using the “Eat Bulaga” identify on its on-line platforms are but to be decided because it has its personal algorithm. He added {that a} employees of TVJ was the one who registered the brandname on-line, claiming that TAPE was in a position to have entry to them.
Since their switch to TV5, TVJ has been utilizing “EAT” on its noontime program. The choice to now use “Eat Bulaga” now must be sorted out with their authorized counsel.