Eat Bulaga Hosts Leave Tape, Inc.

On 31 May 2023, surely I was not the only one who was surprised to see that Eat Bulaga was airing a replay that day. Later, TVJ or Tito (Sotto), Vic (Sotto) and Joey (de Leon) announced what truly happened. Apparently, the new management of Tape Inc prevented them from airing live. On the same day, the three veteran hosts announced that they were disengaging themselves from Tape, Inc. The other hosts – Jose Manalo, Wally Bayola, Allan K, Ryan Agoncillo, Paolo Ballesteros, Maine Mendoza, and Ryzza Mae Dizon – followed suit.

Here's a clip about that announcement.

The Surprise That Eat Bulaga Made

True to its name "Eat Bulaga" made a surprise on 31 May 2023. The longest noontime show in the Philippines surprised the nation with an unexpected end. The word bulaga is synonymous to surprise in English.

Recently, Eat Bulaga was enveloped with "rumors" that the show was ending, rebranding, hosts being replaced, and moving out to another network. Here's a clip about that "rumor" from Tape's point of view.

A day or so after, Sen Tito Sotto responded through Nelson Canlas's Updated via YouTube.

What Happens Next

What now? Will Eat Bulaga continue to air? If yes, with whom? What about its name? Who owns Eat Bulaga?

In the Name of Delicadeza

Who will be willing to host Eat Bulaga? Surely, anyone from the entertainment industry who has respect and honor, or friends with the hosts of Eat Bulaga will never dare accept any engagement from Tape Inc to host or be part of the show. Only the ones, who are complete strangers or known nemesis to the said hosts or show will be willing to take part in the said noontime show.

Who Will Watch the "Rebranded" Eat Bulaga?

If you are loyal to Eat Bulaga or sympathetic with the hosts of the said show, will you continue to watch Eat Bulaga? The success of the rebranded Eat Bulaga depends on fans and followers. Will it capture the same audience? 

If TVJ and the other hosts will simultaneously air a similar show as soon as possible via a different channel and other streaming platforms, most likely Eat Bulaga's established audience niche will remain loyal to them. The original Eat Bulaga will be a threat to the rebranded Eat Bulaga.

Who Owns Eat Bulaga?

The words eat, bulaga and dabarkads cannot be "copyrighted" because these are very common words; just like apple or windows. Only the trademark made from these words can be "copyrighted". TVJ or anybody else can use any of these words legally. Thus, TVJ's Eat Bulaga or Dabarkads are definitely valid program names that can be used legally.

In the first place, common and generally accepted words and names cannot be copyrighted. Copyright is used only for original works such as music, artworks, books, publications, designs, among others. Logo images and logo names can be trademarked but not copyrighted.

Montessori, a name of a physician who developed a theory of education, is being used by many a school. The school that first used Montessori as part of its school name was not able to make exclusive claim to the name for the reason that Montessori is a method of education that any organization can practice.

Likewise, the word apple is not exclusive to Apple Computers Inc. Apple, the company, can only claim exclusive rights to its logo and trademarks, but not to the word apple.

Therefore, Tape Inc can continue using Eat Bulaga as the name of its show; but this does not prevent anybody from using the words eat, bulaga and dabarkads. On the other hand, out of delicadeza, Tape Inc may opt not to use the words eat bulaga. For ethical reasons, I wish they should not.

Tape Inc used to have a talent show called Diz Iz It hosted by Allan K airing just before Eat Bulaga. Its common tagline was it's showtime, which later became the name of Eat Bulaga's rival show. DZBB used to have short injects called Bantay Bata, which ABS-CBN later branded as its own.

Social Media Contents

Who has the right to contents published on various social media platforms: Tape Inc or TVJ?

Tape Inc produced the show, so, it has exclusive rights to all its contents related to what it solely produced. However, TVJ and other personalities have all the rights to prevent Tape Inc to publish any portion of whatever Tape Inc produced that show their faces. 

Whomever the social media account is registered to, he or she owns that social media account unless he or she represented Tape Inc when he or she opened the account. Otherwise, he or she should remove all contents related to whatever Tape Inc produced. On the other hand, if Tape Inc claims ownership to these accounts, and TVJ and other personalities prohibited the company from publishing their faces, Tape Inc should oblige unless both parties agreed in writing to anything otherwise. On the other hand further, stipulation in writing can lose its binding if specifically dated and stated.

Who has rights to Disney films? Disney. It's as easy as that. Tape Inc produced the shows Eat Bulaga, so the right to these is theirs. But to the name? It's a matter of ethics.

Moral of the Story

Always protect what your mind birthed to. Had TVJ officially trademarked the name Eat Bulaga (as a logo name, or a logo image with the words eat bulaga), ethically no one will dare use the words "eat bulaga" commercially for the reason that these words are already encrypted in its trademark. However, the words remain public domain. Only the trademark is exclusive.