Name battle looms as original Sugababes reform

POP MUSIC fans have been weighing the implications of news that the original Sugababes seem on course to release their first new music together in a decade, but will probably be unable to do so under their own name.  
 
The Sugababes appeared on the music scene to great acclaim in 2000. The line-up was: Keisha Buchanan, Siobhan Donaghy and Mutya Buena. 
 
A year later, however, problems within the band led to Donaghy’s departure and thus began one of the most tangled sagas in pop music history. 
 
Fast forward to 2009 and the last original member of the band, Buchanan, was forced out, leaving a totally new line-up in custody of the name ‘Sugababes’ and drawing comparisons to The Ship of Theseus or, in more popular terminology, Trigger’s Broom. 
 
Now, rumours of reconciliation between the original band mates, which have been circulating for some time, have been confirmed by the women themselves, and they’ve announced via Twitter that they have been recording new music together. 
 
It’s fair to assume that the current incarnation of the Sugababes, whose last single failed to chart and was withdrawn from sale to be distributed as a free download instead, may not be too delighted to hear of the headline-grabbing reunion of their forebears. 
 
Further stoking the possibility of an almighty pop diva face-off is original member Mutya Buena’s victory in a 2010 trademark battle with the new Sugababes that gave her the legal right to use the band name in certain areas, although not for musical releases. 
 
So, what will the newly reunited women call themselves? Will we see a legal battle before we hear a musical note? Or will they choose to throw off past associations and call themselves something entirely new?
 
Whatever becomes of the name Sugababes, it seems likely that the brewing chart battle will be none too sweet.   ·