Parliamentary report urges Australians to bypass online geo-blocks that can double prices for IT pro - Polidicks

[quote]A federal parliamentary committee has recommended that consumers find ways to lawfully evade technology that allows IT companies to charge up to twice as much for their products in Australia. The Standing Committee on Infrastructure and Communications found that Australian prices for IT products were up to double those charged overseas. The Committee found Australians paid 42 per cent more, on average, for Adobe software such as Photoshop. Microsoft products were 66 per cent more on average, while specialised 3D animation software was more than 50 per cent more expensive. The committee's chairman, Nick Champion, said geo-blocking was unfair when used to segregate global markets in order to make bigger profits, and pointed to "significant impacts" on Australian consumers and businesses. He said the report had made 10 recommendations to lower prices, included educating Australian businesses on how to bypass geo-blocks.[/quote] Read More: [url]http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-07-29/geo-blocking-mps-committee-price-report-apple-adobe-microsoft/4850484[/url]

I actually don't have a problem with this. It's both dumb and unfair that people living in Australia (and this happens in New Zealand, too) have to pay more just because we live far away. The only additional cost should be shipping and handling. And there's absolutely no excuse for digitally distributed things to be even a cent more expensive.

[QUOTE=Samiam22;41634241]I actually don't have a problem with this. It's both dumb and unfair that people living in Australia (and this happens in New Zealand, too) have to pay more just because we live far away. The only additional cost should be shipping and handling. And there's absolutely no excuse for digitally distributed things to be even a cent more expensive.[/QUOTE] It only happens because the decided that they could get away with it, and for the most part, they have.

Fucken yes im glad to see the government is on our side with this, do you have any idea how much my 3d software costed!! Way to much.

It's great to see the government fighting for this, i mean there's no reason for us to be paying more for digital products it makes no sense Again shipping and handling is the only thing I expect to pay more for

The parliamentary inquiry were pretty fucking pissed when they uncovered this. They really grilled the fuck out of Adobe and Autodesk who both smirked and went "free market bitches".

-amishitguys?-

this is only right and justified upward australia

Good, good. It's absurd that our friends down under pay twice what the rest of us do for the same thing. Really shouldn't be happening. I wonder if a law imposed by the Aussie and NZ governments that capped the maximum markup at something reasonable would work.[QUOTE=Samiam22;41634241]I actually don't have a problem with this. It's both dumb and unfair that people living in Australia (and this happens in New Zealand, too) have to pay more just because we live far away. The only additional cost should be shipping and handling. And there's absolutely no excuse for digitally distributed things to be even a cent more expensive.[/QUOTE] I could somewhat see an extra $5 or so on some games that have to get edited to pass the asinine ratings board ya'll have, but yeah, what they do now is completely and objectively absurd. There's no logical reason to charge double.

[QUOTE=1239the;41634305]The parliamentary inquiry were pretty fucking pissed when they uncovered this. They really grilled the fuck out of Adobe and Autodesk who both smirked and went "free market bitches".[/QUOTE] Also Apple and Microsoft who said they would like prices to be lower in Australia and made up so much bullshit reasons on the spot that the inquiry got really sick and tired by them

[QUOTE=TestECull;41634338]...I could somewhat see an extra $5 or so on some games that have to get edited to pass the asinine ratings board ya'll have, but yeah, what they do now is completely and objectively absurd. There's no logical reason to charge double.[/QUOTE] I dunno, I'd say a deduction of $5 for removing our content! Jokes aside, I'm looking forward to seeing the results of this, if its followed through at all/in my lifetime.