Phil and Jennie Kelly started Phoenix-Britz to export snacks like crisps under the Britz label. But when they tried to register Britz as their trade mark, Kraft got a bit bolshy.

The US company said Britz sounded too much like Ritz - its famous brand of crackers. It even brought in a phonetics expert to make its point.

But the Patent Office has dismissed Kraft's claims, leaving the couple free to use the Britz trade mark and awarding them costs for their trouble, The Independent reported.

This has been the latest in a long line of campaigns by large corporates against small firms over naming disputes - and it's encouraging to see the Government coming down on the side of the little guys.