療癒小物凱蒂貓(Hello Kitty)要哭哭了!7月初,歐盟宣稱,日本母公司三麗鷗非法限制授權(license)相關商品在歐盟單一市場內跨境銷售,此舉違背《反托拉斯法》,遭開罰620萬歐元(約合新台幣2.2億元)。

【違法限制授權淺談】

to license 授權、發許可證

A:Have you heard the European Commission fined Hello Kitty's parent company 6.2 million euros?

(你有聽說歐盟重罰凱蒂貓母公司620萬歐元嗎?)

B:Yes. The E.C. said the Sanrio Company illegally restricted the traders who sell licensed products.

(有,歐盟說它非法限制商家販賣授權商品。)

antitrust 反托拉斯、反壟斷

A:Right! The E.C. regulators claimed such restrictions led to fewer choices and higher prices for customers.

(對!歐盟稱該限制使消費者多付錢,但選擇更少。)

B:To ensure cross-border sales are not prevented is one of the European Commission's antitrust actions.

(歐盟以反托拉斯行動確保跨境銷售不受阻。)

bloc 國家聯盟(此指歐盟)

A:The E.C. hopes consumers can take full advantage of the single-market benefits in the bloc.

(歐盟盼消費者能充分利用單一市場的好處。)

B:I guess the fine will result in price increases; eventually, it'll just hurt future customers.

(我猜罰款造成漲價,終將傷害未來的消費者。)

【延伸關鍵字】

1. regulator:監管者、監管機關

2. character:角色、人物

3. penalty:處罰、罰款

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