Scottish finance expert Craig Alexander Rattray has called for stronger government protections for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) involved in legal disputes with large corporations, following his own trademark battle with billion-dollar accounting firm Xero.
Rattray, founder of the financial education programme Know Your Numbers®, claims that Xero’s use of a name “strikingly similar” to his registered trademark has exposed how difficult — and expensive — it is for smaller businesses to defend their intellectual property.
Legal advice has suggested that Rattray has a strong case, but with estimated litigation costs of up to £750,000, he says most SMEs would find it impossible to pursue action.
“What’s the point in a trademark if it costs so much to defend it?” he said. “We did everything by the book to protect our brand, but the system isn’t set up to support smaller businesses when this kind of thing happens.”
Rattray is urging the government to explore simplified legal recourse, subsidised support, and faster dispute resolution for small businesses defending intellectual property rights.
“Small businesses do the right thing — they build something unique, register it, and follow the rules,” he said. “But when a big company with deep pockets comes along and uses something similar, we’re priced out of the system that’s supposed to protect us.”
“We need a better framework — whether that’s subsidised legal aid, streamlined mediation, or a dedicated fund to help SMEs enforce their rights. Otherwise, what’s the point of registering your IP if only large corporates can afford to defend it?”
The dispute centres on Xero’s “Know Your Numbers” initiative, launched in Australia and New Zealand earlier this year and recently rolled out in the UK. Rattray holds the registered UK trademark for “Know Your Numbers®” in the field of financial education and training.
He established the brand four years ago, 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’ve built a recognised brand that makes a real difference to business owners,” Rattray said. “So when we saw a billion-dollar company use the same name for a similar initiative, we were taken aback — especially given the values they claim to promote.”
Following legal correspondence, Xero acknowledged Rattray’s cease-and-desist letter and made a minor adjustment — changing its branding to “Xero’s Know Your Numbers” — but no agreement has been reached.
While Rattray remains confident in his legal position, he says the cost barrier effectively blocks smaller firms 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 programme under the same name, and that directly affects what we’ve worked so hard to build.”
A spokesperson for Xero said: “I’m afraid we are not able to comment on that matter right now.”
Rattray’s experience highlights a broader challenge facing SMEs in protecting intellectual property against global corporations. Business groups and legal experts have long warned that complex, costly trademark disputes are deterring entrepreneurs from enforcing their rights.
As the government continues to promote entrepreneurship and innovation, Rattray believes IP protection must form part of a wider pro-SME agenda.
“This isn’t just about one business,” he said. “It’s about protecting thousands of small business owners who do the right thing but can’t afford to fight back when big companies overstep.”
