ABS-CBN network has filed a copyright infringement case against the estranged talent Willie Revillame, his company Wil Productions, Inc., and the president of his new home network, TV5′s Ray Espinosa.
The network signed the complaint at the Makati Regional Trial Court last November 24, stating that the parties in question “deliberately and intentionally imitated ‘Wowowee,’” a top-rating noontime show which Revillame previously hosted on ABS-CBN, thereby violating section 172.2 of the Intellectual Property Code.
The format of the new show Willing Willie is disturbingly of the same format that of the previous show Wowowee. Even their production numbers, games like Big Time Ka and Willtime Bigtime, the lighting, camera angles, studio audience seat layout and down to the stage and set design are all strikingly similar to Wowowee, thus “stealing” the goodwill that Wowowee has built over the past 5 years of airing in ABS-CBN.
A Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) against the airing of Willing Willie is now being asked from the court. Previous TROs we’re dismissed by the Quezon City Regional Trail Court, under the sala of Judge Luisito Cortez, as well as the Court of Appeals. The network is hoping that this time, the TRO will be filed successfully.
