SUGABABES CHALLENGE BUENA’S TRADEMARK APPLICATION
British trio the SUGABABES have launched a legal battle against former si nger MUTYA BUENA over the rights to the group’s name after she applied fo r ownership of the trademark last year (09).
Buena formed the trio with Keisha Buchanan and Siobhan Donaghy in 1998, but she quit the band in 2005, four years after Donaghy walked out on th e group.
Buchanan, the last remaining founding member, was kicked out by replace ments Heidi Range and Amelle Berrabah last year (09) and Jade Ewen was hi red to take her place.
Buena then made a legal challenge for the Sugababes name in November (0 9) when she applied to the European Trademarks Authority, based on the fa ct none of the original members remained. Her request was registered by o fficials but has yet to be approved.
And now the current Sugababes line-up is fighting to keep the title - t he trio has filed a notice of opposition, backed by bosses at their recor d label, Island.
An Island Records rep says, "Contractually we are entitled to the use o f the name Sugababes in connection with records and films. We are just pr otecting that right." The current Sugababes line-up - Range, Berrabah and Ewen - is currently recording the group’s eighth studio album.
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