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-------------------------------------------------------------- This story was printed from ZDNet Australia. --------------------------------------------------------------
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Fels praises Democrats over software import law By Staff writers, ZDNet Australia March 27, 2003 URL: http://www.zdnet.com.au/news/business/soa/Fels-praises-Democrats-over-software-import-law/0,139023166,120273211,00.htm
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has praised the Australian Democrats for their decision to support the government's parallel imports of computer software. The decision will allow Australian software resellers to purchase software products from any legitimate source they choose. They will no longer be forced to buy from an Australian distributor. "The decision removes the monopoly which multinational firms have on the import of software," said Professor Allan Fels, ACCC chairman. "It will mean that Australian consumers and small businesses will benefit from lower software prices," he added. Professor Fels attacked the hypocrisy of companies that don't practice what they preach. "The resistance to this change in the law illustrates how some businesses trumpet the virtues of globalisation but try to stop consumers getting its benefits," he said. The decision will mean that amendments to the Copyright Act will be made to allow for parallel importation, which Fels claims will lead to "considerable" reductions in cost. "The ACCC's reports and price surveys have consistently shown that Australians pay more than overseas consumers for best selling business software," he said. The commission claims that Australian prices were found to be 13 per cent higher than US prices for the same software.
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