The Sugababes have played down the significance of former member Mutya Buena's application for ownership of the girl group's name.

Buena, one of the band's founders who quit in 2005, filed her request with the European Trademarks Authority.

She must now wait to see if it is approved. If granted, ownership could give the singer rights to the Sugababes name.

However, Heidi Range said she wasn't concerned about Buena's action – and said she didn't think it would amount to anything.

"Our record company own the name Sugababes," the singer told the BBC. "So there's no conversions 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."

Buena was replaced in the Sugababes by Amelle Berrabah, while Jade Ewen took over from the last remaining original member, Keisha Buchanan, last year.

(by Jason Gregory)