Australian imports looking less legal

[Per]

Starting a small trend of following up on pre-E3 news, here's an item from Australian Gamer on the Fallout 3 classification issues in Australia, proceeding from what was previously dug up by The Escapist.<blockquote>And [that material that has been classified RC cannot be imported into Australia] was also confirmed by the Senior Customs Officer I spoke to, who told me "if they are refused classification they are deemed to be prohibited imports". When I pressed him as to what the repercussions of this would be if you went ahead and tried to import it anyway, he told me "Generally, Customs will seize the goods."

So that's good news at least, to anyone afraid they might have had to do hard time.

[..]

Mind you, according to the website Refused-Classification.com, the last time they had heard of a game that had been refused classification in Australia being seized by customs, was when 6 copies of Grand Theft Auto III (back when it was banned) were confiscated in November 2001

Personally, I hardly think video games are high on the customs hit list of items to keep out of Australia, but the fact remains that it's currently not legal to import games that have a Refused Classification status.</blockquote>There's a possible loophole, though: the import rules on "objectionable goods" are not consistent with the game classification system. It remains to be confirmed that this affects anything.

 

[radnan]

just have someone put the disc in an Oblivion box

Most customs officers won't be able to tell the difference

 

[aenemic]

is it considered importing if you buy the game and download it online? that way you're not actually bringing a physical copy of it into the country...

I don't buy a lot of games so I'm not sure how it works, but I'm under the impression that you can usually buy and download games online nowadays.

 

[Brother None]

is it considered importing if you buy the game and download it online?

It is illegal for an Digital Download service to offer this game to Australian customers.

Not sure if you're breaking the law by DDing it, but they're certainly breaking the law by offering it.

Senseless speculation, tho'. The game will get nerfed and re-classified, no worries.

 

[Silencer]

I heard they are adding Country verification to complement Age verification on teh Bethsite tomorrow.

 

[DarkUnderlord]

Senseless speculation, tho'. The game will get nerfed and re-classified, no worries.

Not if I want to play the non-nerfed version. I'm expecting a "hot coffee" patch will be implemented quickly enough though.

 

[waldo]

just have someone put the disc in an Oblivion box

Most customs officers won't be able to tell the difference

ZING!


(well done )

 

[Makagulfazel]

Just keister stash it.
That's the price you have to pay for breaking the law.

I'm glad the U.S. isn't that bad about liberties yet.