Topic: Legal

Apple, Microsoft, and Adobe forced to face IT pricing inquiry

Summary: The trio of tech giants has been summonsed by the Australian House of Representatives Standing Committee on Infrastructure and Communications.

By Spandas Lui | February 11, 2013 -- 01:58 GMT (17:58 PST)

Follow @spandaslui

Apple, Microsoft, and Adobe have been summonsed by the House Committee on Infrastructure and Communications to face the music at the IT pricing inquiry.

The inquiry was launched mid last year to examine why Australians pay more for IT-related goods compared to the rest of the world. So far, all three tech giants have refused to attend any of the parliamentary hearings despite obvious pricing disparities between their product pricing in Australia and, most notably, the US.

"These firms should have cooperated and been prepared to be more open and transparent about their pricing approaches," Labor MP Ed Husic, who is spearheading the inquiry, said in a statement.

"Adobe, Apple, and Microsoft are just a few firms that have continually defied the public's call for answers and refused to appear before the IT pricing enquiry."

Apple, Microsoft, and Adobe are due to appear before the committee on March 22 in Canberra.

"Adobe will cooperate with the Committee as we have done since the inquiry began," an Adobe spokesperson told ZDNet.

Apple and Microsoft have not issued a statement regarding the summons.

Topics: Legal, Apple, Government AU, Microsoft

Kick off your day with ZDNet's daily email newsletter. It's the freshest tech news and opinion, served hot. Get it.

Talkback

14 comments

Log in or register to join the discussion

misleading article

This is a about AUSTRALIAN government, not U.S government. Why not say so in the TITLE?

"Apple, Microsoft, and Adobe have been summonsed by the House Committee on Infrastructure and Communications to face the music at the IT pricing inquiry."

ChazzMatt
11 February, 2013 02:20

Reply 1 Vote
- Changed summary
  
  The Australian House of Representatives Standing Committee on Infrastructure and Communications have actually referred to themselves as House Committee on Infrastructure and Communications.
  
  But, just to a bit clearer, we have changed the summary to reflect the fact the article is about the Australian Government.
  
  Cheers,
  
  Spandas
  
  spandaslui
  11 February, 2013 02:57
  
  Reply 1 Vote
- Because as we know, the United States is the only country worth mentioning.
  
  That's how your statement comes across, I'm sure it wasn't meant that way.
  
  PepperdotNet
  11 February, 2013 14:42
  
  Reply 2 Votes
  - I'm not sure if it's the only place the article is listed.
    
    But I did find this article under the US edition of ZDNet.
    
    Sam Wagner
    11 February, 2013 15:42
    
    Reply 1 Vote
- ZD Net is already Australian-sourced.
  
  If this were a CNet article, I would agree with your comment. As it's a ZD Net article, one would expect a reference to "government" to mean Australia.
  
  Treknology
  12 February, 2013 00:34
  
  Reply Vote
Good chance it has to do with Australia's policies...

From forced extended warrantees, import terrifies and other protectionist polices to protect local businesses and consumers.

The downside is it increases the costs to everyone.

Bruizer
11 February, 2013 03:45

Reply 2 Votes
Adobe are bad with this

The prices of software from Apple is the same as the US + government charges (GST ect.) so I'm not sure what the government is hoping for there. Microsoft is slightly more expensive but Abode prices are off the planet.
Photoshop
US $699
AU $1,168

Adam Geo
11 February, 2013 04:45

Reply Vote
- Apple, MS, and Adobe
  
  For Apple, perhaps iTunes pricing will come into play. I don't think MS is that bad either (though we still get charged a premium) but Adobe... I'm interested in hearing the company speak at the hearing.
  
  spandaslui
  14 February, 2013 05:45
  
  Reply Vote
- Errr
  
  Heard of something called the Exchange rate? The US$ isn't the same as the AUS$.
  
  Gisabun
  14 February, 2013 22:42
  
  Reply Vote
Rip-off Britain

Prices are worse in the UK. I read about this earlier today and the article said a 16GB wifi iPad in Oz is the equivalent of £351. In the UK it's £399. An Apple TV in the US is $99, here it's £99. ($99 is about £65).
We don't have the title of rip-off Britain for nothing....

pianoman1962
11 February, 2013 20:47

Reply Vote
- No, the UK's Cheaper...
  
  Than Australia. In fact for many items it is cheaper to buy in the UK (including postage to Australia) and have them sent over to Australia, than it is to buy the same item in Australia.
  
  deanzdnet
  11 February, 2013 22:55
  
  Reply Vote
Same goes for New Zealand way above......

It silly but I can purchase Software and Hardware vis Amazon, and have it shipped to NZ for well under the NZ charged prices.

carlsf@...
12 February, 2013 00:36

Reply Vote
Let's drag Autodesk in while we are at it!

Quoted this morning for Building Design Suite Premium + Subscription - can buy online from the US store, download now, for $5995. To buy the same damn thing in AUS, $11,040. The US store has a disclaimer "The purchase options shown above are for versions authorized and licensed for use only in the United States and Canada. Export of these products from the United States or Canada .. constitutes copyright infringement .. blah". Rort. Shows no respect for your customers Autodesk - what - you think we don't notice?!?

james24-dc8a2
12 February, 2013 00:45

Reply Vote
More currency issues

I could see a problem with australia for certain things as they are quite far away from where some goods do come.
THere is also some talk about the Canadian government inquiring on the difference between US and Canadian prices even with the two currencies about dead even. But Canadian pricing could be as much as 30% more than in the US. Canada and US shares many things.
Hell even gaz is cheaper in the US than Canada if you remove all the taxes.

Gisabun
14 February, 2013 22:48

Reply Vote