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Australian Government Releases Report Into IT Price Fixing

Posted by samzenpus on from the one-price-for-all dept.

elphie007 writes "Fourteen months after the Australian Parliament announced an inquiry into the disparity between IT pricing for Australian consumers, the Committee's final report has been published. The report highlights the importance of IT in Australia, and that Australian consumers are frequently shafted in an uncomfortable manner when it comes to purchasing IT goods and services. With recommendations ranging from the removal of parallel importation restrictions to the possible banning of geo-blocking services, could this mean the end of US bound Adobe shopping trips and the beginning of pricing equality for Australian IT consumers? More reports/analysis is available here and here."

1 of 125 comments (clear)

  1. Steam by shione · · Score: 5, Interesting

    The banning of geo blocking would be a great step in the right direction. Stop companies from redirecting us to the Australian store when we specifically put in the url for the overseas counterpart for example steam. If I want to buy from steam US without using a vpn (which is against steam policy if I used a vpn) then I should be able to instead of being forced back to the Australian site. Steam saying that I have to buy from the aussie steam store because some games are banned or censored does not hold water when it is only not illegal for an australian to buy rc goods overseas for personal consumption. Prices differences between the US steam store and the Aussie one can be quite drastic too. Outlaw this too.

    Call of Duty 2
    Aussie steam store: $89.99
    US steam store in equivalent aussie dollars $19.99
    UK steam store in equivalent aussie dollars $30.72

    Civ V
    Aussie steam store: $69.99
    US steam store in equivalent aussie dollars $29.99
    UK steam store in equivalent aussie dollars $30.72

    Dishonoured
    Aussie steam store: $44.99
    US steam store in equivalent aussie dollars $29.99
    UK steam store in equivalent aussie dollars $23.04

    Dead Island Riptide
    Aussie steam store: $69.99
    US steam store in equivalent aussie dollars $39.99
    UK steam store in equivalent aussie dollars $53.78

    The Bureau: XCOM Declassified
    Aussie steam store: $71.99
    US steam store in equivalent aussie dollars $44.99
    UK steam store in equivalent aussie dollars $41.48