C00015-2025

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSIONSEC FORM 17-C

CURRENT REPORT UNDER SECTION 17
OF THE SECURITIES REGULATION CODE
AND SRC RULE 17.2(c) THEREUNDER

1. Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported)
Jan 2, 2025
2. SEC Identification Number
5213
3. BIR Tax Identification No.
000-917-916
4. Exact name of issuer as specified in its charter
GMA Network, Inc.
5. Province, country or other jurisdiction of incorporation
Philippines
6. Industry Classification Code(SEC Use Only)
7. Address of principal office
GMA Network Center, EDSA corner Timog Avenue, Diliman, Quezon City Postal Code 1103
8. Issuer's telephone number, including area code
(632) 8982-7777
9. Former name or former address, if changed since last report
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10. Securities registered pursuant to Sections 8 and 12 of the SRC or Sections 4 and 8 of the RSA
Title of Each Class Number of Shares of Common Stock Outstanding and Amount of Debt Outstanding
Preferred Shares 7,500,000,000
Common Shares 3,364,692,000
11. Indicate the item numbers reported herein
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The Exchange does not warrant and holds no responsibility for the veracity of the facts and representations contained in all corporate disclosures, including financial reports. All data contained herein are prepared and submitted by the disclosing party to the Exchange, and are disseminated solely for purposes of information. Any questions on the data contained herein should be addressed directly to the Corporate Information Officer of the disclosing party.

GMA Network, Inc.GMA7

PSE Disclosure Form 4-13 - Clarification of News Reports References: SRC Rule 17 (SEC Form 17-C) and
Section 4.4 of the Revised Disclosure Rules

Subject of the Disclosure

Clarification of News Report - "CA affirms 'Eat Bulaga' is with TVJ"

Source Tribune.net
Subject of News Report "CA affirms 'Eat Bulaga' is with TVJ"
Date of Publication Dec 30, 2024
Clarification of News Report

We write with respect to various news articles relating to GMA Network, Inc. (“GMA7” or the “Company”). In the attached article entitled “CA affirms ‘Eat Bulaga’ is with TVJ” posted in Tribune.net.ph on December 30, 2024, it was reported that:

“The decision of the Marikina Regional Trial Court that found Television and Production Exponents (TAPE) Inc. liable for unfair competition and copyright infringement, and ordered it and GMA Network to stop using the trademark, its logos and jingle, was affirmed by the Court of Appeals (CA).

In the decision, the lower court also ordered TAPE to pay hosts Tito Sotto, Vic Sotto and Joey de Leon — collectively known as TVJ — and their co-defendant Jeny Ferre damages and attorney’s fees.

The CA Ninth Division, in a 13 December decision, junked the separate petitions filed by TAPE Inc. and GMA Network seeking to reverse the Marikina RTC ruling.

Records showed that TAPE and GMA had questioned the RTC’s order canceling TAPE’s trademark registration of ‘Eat Bulaga’ and stopping them from using it, as well as its finding that the three hosts have copyright ownership over the ‘Eat Bulaga’ audio-visual recordings prior to 31 May 2023.

However, in a ruling penned by Associate Justice Zenaida Galapate-Laguilles, the CA said the RTC decision adhered to the state policy to secure certain individuals’ exclusive rights over their intellectual property.

‘Indeed, the exclusive rights of scientists, inventors, as well as artists and gifted citizens — like respondents Tito, Vic, Joey, and Jeny here — over their intellectual property and creations, must be protected and secured, consistent with the aforequoted State policy,’ the CA said

. . . .”

GMA7 is hereby directed to clarify and/or confirm the information in the above-quoted news article including, but not limited to, the Court of Appeals’ decision last December 13, 2024 to junk the petitions filed by the Company and Tape Inc. with regard to the intellectual property case concerning the TV show “Eat Bulaga” and Tito Sotto, Vic Sotto and Joey de Leon. The relevant details of the case and the effect of the same on the Company’s business and operations must likewise be included in the response.

"To date, GMA has not yet received a copy of the CA decision subject of the news articles and so we cannot comment thereon. 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. Furthermore, the RTC did not adjudge GMA liable for copyright infringement and damages. Hence, the CA decision affirming the RTC decision should have no impact/effect on the business or operations of GMA. We trust that we have sufficiently clarified the matter".

Other Relevant Information

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Filed on behalf by:
Name Ayahl Ari Augusto Chio
Designation First Vice President