Valve Found To Have Breached Australian Consumer Law

[HardOCP News]

It looks like Valve is in more trouble with the authorities down under. According to the article, the penalty for "misleading and deceptive conduct" could be as high as $1.1 million.

The Federal Court found Valve, which operates online game website Steam, engaged in misleading or deceptive conduct by telling Australian players they were not entitled to refunds for digitally downloaded content.

 

[Dwango]

Good luck enforcing that Australia. I hate it when countries/states try to pull this shit. The US and individual states within it do this all the time and it usually amounts to nothing because it's entirely unenforceable unless you get the cooperation of the country where the company/person is located. Your local laws don't mean jack if the company violating them isn't there.

 

[rezerekted]

Counterpoint: If they aren't willing to follow the consumer laws of the country they are selling to then they shouldn't be doing business there, and if Australia really wants to play hard ball they can probably enforce that. I am sick of USA companies thinking their piss poor consumer laws apply to the world.

 

[ZLoth]

Bah.... the purchase was made by an Australian user using a computer located in Australia connected to a Internet Service Provider in Australia using a Australian method of payment on a online store offering Australian pricing. Why doesn't Steam think that Australian laws apply?

 

[Vercinaigh]

Counterpoint: If they aren't willing to follow the consumer laws of the country they are selling to then they shouldn't be doing business there, and if Australia really wants to play hard ball they can probably enforce that. I am sick of USA companies thinking their piss poor consumer laws apply to the world.

Remember, prolly cheaper for them to stop catering to Australia all together than to bother with this in any form. Doubtful to effect their bottom line much either. Easy to say things like this when you literally don't give a shit as a company about your country lol. No offense meant, or anything, just sorta the reality of it.

 

[KazeoHin]

They could be fined 1.1 Million! Where would Valve EVER get that!?

Oh wait, in the time it took me to post this, they made it 5 times....

 

[Riddlinkidstoner]

Remember, prolly cheaper for them to stop catering to Australia all together than to bother with this in any form. Doubtful to effect their bottom line much either. Easy to say things like this when you literally don't give a shit as a company about your country lol. No offense meant, or anything, just sorta the reality of it.

Australia is a huge market and many companies do business there because if this, despite the strong consumer laws.

 

[KazeoHin]

Remember, prolly cheaper for them to stop catering to Australia all together than to bother with this in any form. Doubtful to effect their bottom line much either. Easy to say things like this when you literally don't give a shit as a company about your country lol. No offense meant, or anything, just sorta the reality of it.

Kind-of true, except Australians are WAAY more used to spending a LOT of money for shit that is practically FREE in other countries. Spending $80 US on a new release is commonplace. So small population but huge profit margins.