Daily Archives: 1 March 2013

Microsoft, Apple summonsed in Australia to explain high prices

open quoteTechnology giants Microsoft and Apple have been summonsed to appear before a federal parliamentary committee to explain why Australians are forced to pay more for some of their products compared with other countries.

The committee has also issued a summons to Adobe, with all three companies to appear before a public hearing on March 22.

If they fail to turn up they could be held in contempt of Parliament, which carries a range of possible penalties including fines or jail time.

The companies have provided written submissions to the committee but have declined several requests for them to appear in person.

The investigation was set up after a long campaign by Labor backbencher Ed Husic, who has accused some information technology companies of “ripping off” Australian consumers.close quote (Read more)

Jeffrey Tucker: “Imagine a time when the government knew nothing about the money in your bank.”

open quoteImagine a time when the government knew nothing about the money in your bank. It cared nothing about how much you made, where you made it, and what you did with it. You could take your earnings in gold, silver, paper, or anything else, and never filed a sheet with the government. How you earned a living was none of the business of the political class. For that matter, your bank account could be under a false name and absolutely no one cared. This was the world of a mere 100 years ago in the United States. That’s why it was called the “land for the free.”close quote