Ex-Sugababe files action

Founder Mutya Buena has applied for the band's name...

10:24 04 March 2010

Former Sugababe Mutya Buena has applied for ownership of the band's name, her legal firm has confirmed.

The singer, who left the group in 2005, has filed her request with the European Trademarks Authority.

Buena was one of the three founding members of the all girl act, with Keisha Buchanan and Siobhan Donaghy.

Buchanan was the last original member to leave, splitting from current singers Amelle Berrabah and Heidi Range. She was shortly replaced by Jade Ewen.

At the time, Buena said: "It just means the Sugababes have ended because there are no original people remaining.

"With none of the original members in there, it will be known as more of a brand name than for the singing," she added.

However speaking at an album launch recently, Heidi Range, dismissed the claims.

"Our record company owns the name Sugababes," Range told the BBC. "So there's no conversations about who owns the name.

"I signed to Universal Records eight and a half years ago with Mutya and Keisha as the Sugababes, so we've still got the name."

She added: "I don't know whether it's just the press kicking up a bit of a fuss but nothing that we're aware of."

Newset recruit Ewen said she wasn't surprised by the news: "It would be nice for it to be a bit more positive but it's to be expected," she said.

"We can't even blame anybody for feeling the way they do."

If Buena's application is approved, it could mean that she will own the rights to use the Sugababes name on goods such as CDs and DVDs.

The band's next album, which is the first release by the new trio, was delayed while Ewen re-recorded Buchanan's vocals.

'Sweet 7' is set to hit shelves from March 15.