The Australian High Court have ordered Valve to pay a $2.4 million fine after being found guilty of violating the country’s consumer law and having an appeal to the case dismissed. This was due to Australia finding that Steam’s refund policy was misleading.
Sarah Court, ACCC commissioner, said of the verdict:
“This important precedent confirms the ACCC’s view that overseas-based companies selling to Australian consumers must abide by our laws. If customers buy a product online that is faulty, they are entitled to the same right to a repair, replacement or refund as if they’d walked in to a store.”
Valve attempted to have the case appealed in both the Full Court and High Court, but was rejected in both courts. Now they are required to comply with the court’s ruling.