Sony Interactive Entertainment (NYSE:SNE) Network Europe has reportedly been fined AU$3.5 million ($2.4 million) by an Australian court after "refusing to refund customers" who believed they purchased faulty digital products. Four consumers spoke out against the company after Sony refused to refund digital purchases. However, a fifth consumer was offered the refund. Because of this, Sony was found guilty of breaking Australian Consumer Law.
Rod Sims, the chairman of the Australian Competition & Consumer Commission, stated that “consumer guarantee rights do not expire after a digital product has been downloaded and certainly do not disappear after 14 days or any other arbitrary date claimed by a game store or developer.”
Consumers can get a repair, replacement or refund for products with a major fault from the seller, and they cannot be simply sent to a product developer, he said.
Sony was also found guilty after telling a consumer that it did not have to provide a refund unless the game's developer authorized it.
Sims responded to the incident, stating that "what Sony told these consumers was false." This liability led to Sony owing $3.5 million and will also add to the ACCC's legal cost.
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