Founding Sugababes member Mutya Buena has applied¹ for ownership of the band's name, her legal firm has confirmed.

甜心宝贝组合创始成员玛雅·布依娜请求拥有组合名字的所有权。

Mutya Buena left the band in 2005 to pursue a solo career

The star, who quit the band in 2005, has applied to the European Trademarks³ Authority for permission. Her request has been registered, but not approved.

The last of the pop group's original members, Keisha Buchanan, left last year, and was replaced by Jade⁴ Ewen.

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

She added: "It kind of doesn't make sense that there is Sugababes any more. I don't know if it's just me, but Keisha being the original that was left out of the band, her leaving doesn't make it Sugababes really.

'Lack of trust'

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

Kilburn and Strode, the firm that has put forward the application, said they were "hopeful" registration⁵ would be passed in a few months.

All three original members - Buena, Buchanan and Siobhan Donaghy - are named on the document, but Kilburn and Strode told the BBC that Buena was the "sole applicant⁶".

The current line-up, which includes Heidi Range and Amelle Berrabah, are expected to attend the launch of their new album later.

Sweet 7 is the first release by the new trio（三重奏） , and has been delayed while Ewen re-recorded Buchanan's vocals⁷.

Buchanan has always maintained that it was not her decision to leave the pop group last September.

At the time, the band's official website said she had quit to focus on her solo career.

But she blamed "a breakdown⁸ in communication" and "lack of trust" for her no longer singing in the band.

On the social networking site Twitter, Buchanan said: "Although it was not my choice to leave, it's time to enter a new chapter in my life.

"I've had a great time and have achieved more then I ever thought I would."

Representatives for the former and current line-ups of the Sugababes were not immediately available to comment on the trademark² application.