IT pricing inquiry - News, Features, and Slideshows

News

• Second anniversary of IT pricing report approaches

  The government is "considering its response" to the IT pricing inquiry, according to a Q&A document issued by Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull today.

• Inquiry rejects ban on ISDS clauses in free trade agreements

  A Senate inquiry has recommended against passing a bill that would bar Australia from entering into trade agreements that include so-called 'investor-state dispute settlement' clauses.

• Free trade provisions could hamper action on IT pricing

  A class of provisions in free trade agreements that allow foreign investors to take legal action over government decisions they consider detrimental to their interests could hamper future action on excessive pricing of IT products in Australia, an ANU academic has warned.

• Parliamentary committee prescribes more education, competition to cut IT prices

  The parliamentary committee analysing why prices for IT goods are higher in Australia than other countries has chosen not to rein in the vendors that set the prices.

• Get some perspective on IT pricing, says licensing expert

  Software specialist Filipa Preston has weighed in on the IT pricing debate, saying although prices are in most instances too high, many of the figures quoted during last week’s parliamentary inquiry were “not representative of the reality.”
  

• IT pricing committee to explore Apple’s music claims

  The IT pricing inquiry committee will take up Apple boss Tony King’s suggestion of approaching record labels to discuss the issue of Australians paying higher prices for digital music.

• Inquiry will 'weigh on' vendors setting future pricing

  The scrutiny applied to Adobe, Apple and Microsoft at last week’s IT pricing inquiry was a small victory for consumers despite each vendor's response not “coming close to a justification for higher prices”, said Matt Levey, head of campaigns at Choice.

• Australians would buy local if it wasn't cheaper overseas: MasterCard

  Unless they have to pay more, most Australians prefer to buy from Australian websites when shopping online for the holidays, according to a MasterCard study released today.

• Choice urges IP spoofing for better IT prices

  Consumers should spoof their IP address and use US forwarding addresses to beat high IT prices in Australia, consumer advocacy group Choice said.