“TAPE Presents Third Witness in Copyright Infringement Case Against TVJ and Jeny Ferre”
The ongoing legal battle between Television and Production Exponents Inc. (TAPE), the producer of popular noontime show “Eat Bulaga,” and its former hosts Tito Sotto, Vic Sotto, and Joey de Leon, collectively known as TVJ, along with Jeny Ferre, has reached another milestone. On September 21, the Marikina Regional Trial Court Branch 273 held a hearing for the application of a writ of preliminary injunction in the copyright infringement and unfair competition case filed by TVJ and Ferre.
During the hearing, TAPE presented its third witness, an employee who had worked for the company from 1979 to 1989. The witness, who started as a contributing writer for “Eat Bulaga,” eventually rose to become a head writer, associate producer, and assistant vice president for production. TAPE intends to call two more witnesses in the upcoming proceedings.
TVJ and Ferre initiated the case against TAPE and GMA Network last June, alleging copyright infringement and unfair competition under the Intellectual Property Code of the Philippines (R.A. No. 8293). The plaintiffs requested the court to grant an injunction that would prohibit TAPE from replaying any episodes, segments, and audio-visual recordings of “Eat Bulaga” created before May 31 of this year. The plaintiffs also demanded that TAPE cease using the title “Eat Bulaga.”
Notably, Tito Sotto, Vic Sotto, and Ferre had previously testified in court regarding their case against TAPE. Following their departure from “Eat Bulaga” and TAPE on May 31, they have since joined TV5 and are now hosting the show “E.A.T.”
The legal battle between the former hosts and their former production company continues to unfold, with both sides presenting their arguments and evidence in the hopes of achieving a favorable outcome. The court will carefully consider the facts and applicable laws before reaching a decision on the preliminary injunction, a decision that could significantly impact the future of “Eat Bulaga” and the parties involved.
