Last year Valve was forced to offer refunds in Australia following a legal case with the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) over consumer rights for digital purchases (thanks Darth Guybrush). Now ZDNet reports the ACCC is also bringing EA's Origin service in line with Australian consumer laws, though they do specify that this will be for "defective" games. Here's a bit:

After receiving complaints, the ACCC investigated the issue, and EA made a court-enforceable undertaking to the ACCC that for the next three years, the company will not have a "no refunds" policy, and won't prevent customers from obtaining refunds for games purchased through Origin.

The company has also said it will amend its terms and conditions to comply with Australian Consumer Law.

Any customer who bought a defective game on Origin after January 1, 2012, wishing to obtain a refund can now contact EA to have a claim assessed. EA will set up a complaints number, an email address, and a post office box for inquiries associated with the undertaking.

"Businesses such as EA selling digitally downloadable goods cannot avoid their responsibilities under the Australian Consumer Law just because they are located outside of Australia," ACCC Chairman Rod Sims said in a statement.

"It is a breach of the Australian Consumer Law for businesses to state that customers are not entitled to refunds under any circumstances. Where a product has a major failure, consumers can insist on a refund or replacement at their choice. Representations that this right has or can be excluded, restricted, or modified are false or misleading."