feeling listless

Music And so the "Sugababes" go on the counter offensive, offensive in this case, being the operative word. Last year, Mutya from the real Sugababes filed for copyright ownership of the name. At the time, the "Sugababes" claimed the record company already had that right despite all evidence to the contrary. Now, unsurprisingly, as BBC News reports:

"the current line-up - Heidi Range, Amelle Berrabah and Jade Ewen - have filed a notice of opposition, as have their record company, Island Records."

Important reminder of who's actually in the group there (elaborated upon further into the article -- it's like a wikipedia entry down there).

They appear to be using the Bucks Fizz defence:

"In a letter to the EU body, Universal's Island Records said that because of the "similarity of the goods and services" provided by the applicant - Buena - "there is a likelihood of confusion on the part of the public".

I think the public are already confused; any new fans created on the back of Sweet 7 (there must be some, there is one good track on there) who decide to investigate the group's back catalogue are presented with a range of albums with an assortment of different faces on them -- they're the noughties equivalent of the Top of the Pops compilations and often just as saucy.

My expectation, sadly, is that the judge will rule in favour of Island despite Mutya prior claim based on their original childhood group name (which was THE Sugababes) because there is at present only one group recording under that name, the promised reunion having not materialised. This is not a like the Liberty case, there will be no name change, even though Sugafree is still available ...