Scottish finance expert Craig Alexander Rattray has called for stronger government protection for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) involved in legal disputes with big corporations, following their trademark battle with billion-dollar accounting firm Xero.
Rattray, founder of the financial education program Know Your Numbers®, claims that Xero's use of a name “very similar” to their registered trademark has highlighted how difficult – and expensive – it is for small businesses to protect their intellectual property.
Legal advice has suggested Rattray has a strong case, but with estimated litigation costs of up to £750,000, he says it will be impossible for most SMEs to take action.
“What's the point of a trademark if it costs so much to protect it?” He said. “We did everything we could to protect our brand, but the system is not designed to support small businesses when an incident like this happens.”
Rattray is urging the government to explore simplified legal recourse, subsidized support and faster dispute resolution for small businesses that protect intellectual property rights.
“Small businesses do the right thing – they create something unique, register it and follow the rules,” he said. “But when a big company with deep pockets comes in and uses something similar, we are locked out of the system that is supposed to protect us.”
“We need a better framework – whether it's subsidized legal aid, streamlined arbitration, or a dedicated fund to help SMEs enforce their rights. Otherwise, what's the point of registering your IP if only big corporates can defend it?”
The controversy centers on Xero's “Know Your Numbers” initiative, which launched in Australia and New Zealand earlier this year and recently launched in the UK. Rattray holds the registered UK trademark for “Know Your Numbers®” in the field of financial education and training.
He founded the brand four years ago by building a trusted financial education platform that helps thousands of small business owners understand their finances through workshops, podcasts, video content, and two published books.
“We have built a recognized brand that makes a real difference for business owners,” Rattray said. “So when we saw a billion-dollar company use the same name for a similar initiative, we were surprised – especially given the values they claim to promote.”
After legal correspondence, Zero accepted Rattray's cease-and-desist letter and made a small adjustment – changing its branding to “Zero's Know Your Numbers” – but no agreement was reached.
While Rattray is confident in his legal position, he says the cost barrier effectively prevents smaller companies from pursuing justice.
“Xero positions itself as a champion of small business,” he said. “But this feels less like healthy competition and more like being sidelined by a company with far greater resources.
“They’re offering a free program by the same name, and it takes away from what we worked so hard to build.”
A spokesperson for Xero said: “I'm afraid we're not able to comment on that matter at this time.”
Rattray's experience highlights the broader challenge facing SMEs in protecting intellectual property against global corporations. Business groups and legal experts have long warned that complex, expensive trademark disputes are preventing entrepreneurs from enforcing their rights.
As the government continues to promote entrepreneurship and innovation, Rattray believes IP protection should form part of a broader pro-SME agenda.
“It's not just about a business,” he said. “This is about protecting the thousands of small business owners who do the right thing but can't afford to fight when big companies move in.”
Amy Ingham
Amy is a newly qualified journalist specializing in business journalism with responsibility for news content at Business Matters, the UK's largest print and online source of current business news.
