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For Australians, if you are affected, this is the kind of issue that should be raised with ACCC at https://www.accc.gov.au/about-us/contact-us/report-a-consumer
by NolF 3y ago
For Australians, if you are affected, this is the kind of issue that should be raised with ACCC at https://www.accc.gov.au/about-us/contact-us/report-a-consumer-issue#form https://www.accc.gov.au/about-us/contact-us/report-a-consume....
It falls under the Australian Consumer Protection under misleading or deceptive conduct.[0] A lifetime licence marketed as such cannot be withdrawn let alone with EULA/TOS presented after the purchase.[1] Probably could also get your money back from the retailer/autodesk too if you cannot use the software with your lifetime licence.
[0] https://consumer.gov.au/sites/consumer/files/2016/05/0553FT_ACL-guides_UnfairPractices_web.pdf https://consumer.gov.au/sites/consumer/files/2016/05/0553FT_...
[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ticket_cases https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ticket_cases
- rahkiin 3y agoAre businesses able to claim under Consumer Protection in Australia? In the Netherlands a whole lot of consumer protections do not apply when buying as a company
- guidedlight 3y agoYes. Businesses are covered under Australia’s Consumer Protection if the value of the goods or services under consideration is less than A$100,000.
- NolF 3y agoSome of the protections do apply to business purchases such as section 18 of the ACL which relates to misleading and deceptive conduct and section 29 regarding false or misleading representations. Businesses, will, in some scenarios (they need to meet the definition of consumer under the Act) also have access to consumer guarantees found under s51-59 which provide some of the stronger remedy options including full refunds.
- mcpackieh 3y agoAre people/orgs who file such complaints legally protected from retaliation? For instance, might Autodesk respond by giving complainants a full refund and a lifetime ban from their products?
- NolF 3y agoIt would likely fall under "unconscionable conduct" which is illegal under the ACL. I would imagine it would difficult for them to prevent individual licences being sold through their retail/online mechanisms.. You would have more limited protections if >100,000 in licence fees, and they may or may not have an enterprise programs for those purchasing that many licences. But where they engage in retaliatory behaviour they could be sued and through discovery determine if they refused to engage with you or jack up the prices in retaliation for a lawful complaint. As you can imagine this would be expensive but... you would also likely be at a scale that could afford such litigation.