GOZON-LED media group GMA Network Inc. said on Thursday that a Court of Appeals’ (CA) decision affirming a Marikina Regional Trial Court (RTC) ruling on the use of the “Eat Bulaga” trademark “should have no impact/effect on the business operations” of the network.
“To date, GMA has not yet received a copy of the CA decision subject of the news articles and so we cannot comment thereon,” the media firm told the Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE).
“But it should be noted that GMA has already complied with the assailed Marikina RTC Decision dated 22 December 2023 and refrained from using the trademark, logos and jingle of ‘Eat Bulaga’ after its receipt of the said order on 5 January 2024 that enjoined GMA from broadcasting/using the same,” the network added.
It further noted that “the RTC did not adjudge GMA liable for copyright infringement and damages.”
On Dec. 13, 2024, the CA’s Ninth Division junked the separate petitions filed by Television and Production Exponents Inc. and GMA to reverse the Marikina RTC ruling.
GMA was responding to reports that the CA had upheld the RTC’s finding that television hosts Vic Sotto, Tito Sotto and Joey de Leon, along with co-defendant Jeny Ferre, held copyright over “Eat Bulaga” audiovisual recordings prior to May 31, 2023.
CA Associate Justice Zenaida Galapate-Laguilles was also reported as saying that the RTC decision “adhered to the state policy to secure certain individuals’ exclusive rights over their intellectual property.”
The broadcast firm in November reported a 43-percent drop in net income to P1.41 billion as of the end of the third quarter from P2.47 billion a year earlier.
Revenues fell to P12.46 billion from P13.77 billion, down by 9.5 percent year on year, as advertising earnings declined.
Based on reports, GMA said that advertising revenues had fallen by 9 percent to P11.52 billion during the 11-month period.
“Airtime revenues remained challenged with the changing landscape in our viewer and advertiser behavior as major factors to the drag,” the firm was quoted as saying.
“With this, the company has ensured that it is keeping pace with these developments, and it has continuously made progress in positioning itself in the digital and online arena.”
GMA shares on Thursday closed up 1.47 percent at P6.20 each amid a 0.33-percent rise for the benchmark PSE index.
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