The first trial for the copyright infringement and unfair competition case filed by Tito Sotto, Vic Sotto and Joey de Leon, known as TVJ, and Jeny Ferre against the Television and Production Exponents Inc. (TAPE) and GMA Network will start on Monday, Oct. 23.
TVJ and Ferre filed the case last June for “Copyright Infringement and Unfair Competition under R.A. No. 8293, otherwise known as the Intellectual Property Code of the Philippines, with Application for Issuance of a Writ of Preliminary Injunction.”
They are asking the court to issue an injunction to stop TAPE from replaying “Eat Bulaga” episodes, segments and audio-visual recordings done before May 31 this year and using the title “Eat Bulaga.”
The Marikina Regional Trial Court Branch 273 set the date after it finished the hearings in the writ of preliminary injunction part, which was tackled first before the main case.
On Oct. 23, GMA Network will present its witness with the next hearing set on Oct. 27.
The court will decide if TVJ and Ferre have a claim for copyright infringement against TAPE over the entire show of “Eat Bulaga” and the show’s jingle, and if a permanent injunction can be issued against the two defendants.
It will also make a decision on TVJ and Ferre’s claim of unfair competition against TAPE over the use of the “Eat Bulaga” name and logos.
During the trial for the main case, TVJ and Ferre, and TAPE will no longer present any evidence as they have already adopted all the evidence presented during the injunction hearings.
De Leon, Tito Sotto and Ferre testified during the injunction hearings. Vic Sotto was supposed to be presented as witness but the TVJ camp decided not to.
Those who testified for TAPE included Malou Lourdes Fagar, former senior vice president and COO of TAPE, and Romeo Jalosjos.
TVJ left “Eat Bulaga” and TAPE on May 31 and transferred to TV5 and are now hosting the show “E.A.T.”
“Eat Bulaga,” which airs on GMA Network, has a new set of hosts. (J. Hicap,mb.com.ph)
CAPTION: The new hosts of “Eat Bulaga” (top) and Tito, Vic and Joey, the former hosts of the show (Photos from TAPE Inc. on Facebook and “EatBulaga1979” Instagram account)