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[Jackpot]

http://www.smh.com.au/business/medi...ion-for-refusing-refunds-20161223-gthdux.html

Video games website Steam fined $3 million for refusing refunds

Gaming company Valve Corporation has been hit with a $3 million fine after the Federal Court found its online games site Steam breached Australian Consumer Laws.

The court imposed the maximum fine requested by Australia's competition regulator because of Valve's disregard for Australian law and lack of contrition.

Valve's general counsel, Karl Quackenbush, told the court the company did not obtain legal advice when it set up in Australia, and did not check its obligations until the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission got involved in April 2014. It only provided staff verbal instructions.

This lack of interest in Australian laws and lack of cooperation encouraged Justice James Edelman to impose a pentaly 12 times more than Valve Corporation suggested it pay.

A court found in May that Steam's website breached Australian Consumer Law because it stated consumers were not entitled to a refund and had no access to minimum quality guarantees.

Steam must now introduce a compliance program and place an notice in size 14 type on its Australia website informing consumers about their rights.

Valve had suggested it pay a penalty of just $250,000 but Justice Edelman noted the penalty proposed by Valve was "not even a real cost of doing business. It would barely be noticed".

inb4 "Valve made games I enjoyed therefore they're my friends and we should let them do whatever they want!"

 

[ashecitism]

Already a thread.

http://m.neogaf.com/showthread.php?t=1327617

 

[Card Boy]

inb4 "Valve made games I enjoyed therefore they're my friends and we should let them do whatever they want!"

Savage AF (and you know this will happen)

 

[jabberwocker]

What's the maximum penalty for thread repost?

 

[SpacePirate Ridley]

Savage AF (and you know this will happen)

And, "I would not like them going under, they will take my games".