Wednesday, December 22, 2010

CA temporarily stops ABS-CBN’s infringement case vs Revillame

By Nancy C. Carvajal
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 19:24:00 12/21/2010

MANILA, Philippines—The Court of Appeals has ordered a Makati Regional Trial Court to stop conducting hearings on the petition for a temporary restraining order (TRO) being sought by television network ABS-CBN against former “Wowowee” host Willie Revillame.

According to ABC 5 lawyer Ferdinand Domingo, the appellate court granted the petition for a TRO filed by ABC Development Corp. (TV5) and its president, Ray C. Espinosa, against Judge Joselito C. Villarosa, presiding judge of the Makati City Regional Trial Court Branch 66.

“The TRO enjoins the Makati Regional Trial Court from conducting further proceedings on the TRO application by ABS-CBN on Civil Case No. 10-1155,” Domingo said.

Revillame moved to TV5 earlier this year after he and ABS-CBN had a falling out. He is the host of the network’s new primetime game show, “Willing Willie.”

Domingo said the decision was contained in the December 17 resolution of the appellate court’s Fourth Division headed by Associate Justice Josefina Guevara-Salonga with Associate Justices Franchito N. Diamante and Mariflor Punzalan Castillo as members.

Earlier, ABS-CBN filed a copyright infringement case against Revillame before the Makati RTC. It accused him of copying the format of “Wowowee” in “Willing Willie.”

In response, TV5 asked the appellate court to issue a TRO to stop the lower court from hearing the case against Revillame.


Domingo, however, said the court required TV5 to post a cash bond worth P102,400,000 “to answer for any and all damages which private respondent (ABS-CBN) may suffer or sustain, by reason of the temporary restraining order, should this court finally decide that the petitioners are not entitled thereto.”

SOURCE: http://showbizandstyle.inquirer.net/entertainment/entertainment/view/20101221-310255/CA-temporarily-stops-ABS-CBNs-infringement-case-vs-Revillame

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