Notice: https://store.steampowered.com/consumer_rights_notice/
Consumer Protection Article: http://www.mondaq.com/australia/x/695290/Dodd-Frank+Wall+Str…
On 24 March 2016, the Federal Court of Australia found that Valve Corporation had engaged in misleading conduct contrary to the Australian Consumer Law in representing to Australian consumers via the Steam Subscriber Agreement and Steam Refund Policy that consumers had no entitlement to a refund in any circumstances and that Valve had excluded, restricted or modified statutory guarantees of acceptable quality. A link to the Federal Court judgment appears here:
http://www.judgments.fedcourt.gov.au/judgments/Judgments/fca…
When you buy video games from Valve Corporation as a consumer located in Australia, the video games come with guarantees under the Australian Consumer Law that cannot be excluded, including a guarantee that the video games are of acceptable quality. You are entitled to a replacement or refund from the retail supplier of the video games for a major failure and for compensation for any other reasonably foreseeable loss or damage. You are also entitled to have the video games repaired or replaced by the retail supplier of the video games if the video games fail to be of acceptable quality and the failure does not amount to a major failure. Certain other rights are available directly against manufacturers that cannot be excluded or limited.
The test for acceptable quality is whether a reasonable consumer, fully aware of the state and condition of the video games, would find them:
- safe, durable and free from defects;
- acceptable in appearance and finish; and
- fit for all the purposes for which video games of that kind are commonly supplied. This must take into account the nature and price of the video games, and any statements on packaging or labelling.
For further information on consumer rights in Australia, visit www.consumerlaw.gov.au and www.accc.gov.au/consumerguarantees.
Looks like someone managed to claim a refund on the basis that a refund was denied prior to Steam implementing their current refund system.
wow, this is pretty interesting.
the Aust legal system enforcing consumer rights for electronic goods purchased from an International company.
however - how enforceable is this?
answer - unenforceable.
Valve/Steam is located in the US.
However there may be further ramifications for companies who have a physical location in Australia - e.g. Ebay. Amazon, etc ; who sell any goods (digital or physical)
i.e. paying Tax.
but I don't hold my breath. these companies find marvellous loopholes to avoid paying tax. (Starbucks corporation does not pay tax in Australia because all profit is off set by the cost of "research")
maybe the consumer rights angle is a further attempt to reap tax revenue for the government?
maybe it's them just flexing their muscle?
will be interesting to see what happens