Two of the world’s largest smart phone makers, Apple and Samsung, were fined a total of 15 million euros (17.1 million U.S. dollars) this week in part for taking what are seen as illegal steps to force customers to buy new replacement phones sooner than they would have.

　　本周，全球最大的两家智能手机制造商苹果和三星被处以总计1,500万欧元(合1,710万美元)的罚款，部分原因是它们采取了被视为非法的措施，迫使消费者提前购买新手机。

　　The fines from the country’s antitrust regulator are officially for the companies’ frequent use of firmware updates that "have caused serious malfunctions and significantly reduced performance, thereby accelerating the process of replacing them."

　　该国反垄断监管机构的罚款正式用于这两家公司频繁使用“导致严重故障并显著降低性能的固件更新，从而加快了更换它们的过程。”

　　Combined, Apple and Samsung account for more than half of the Italian smartphone market, and around a third of the worldwide market for the devices.

　　苹果和三星占意大利智能手机市场的一半以上，在全球智能手机市场占据了约三分之一的份额。

　　According to Rocco Panetta, managing partner of the Panetta &Associati law firm specializing in competition issues, it is significant that the rulings each carried the maximum fine the antitrust watchdog could issue -- 5 million euros (5.7 million U.S. dollars). U.S.-based Apple was found guilty of two separate violations, while Samsung, from South Korea, was guilty of one.

　　据专注于竞争问题的美国帕内塔律师事务所(Panetta &Associati)管理合伙人罗科·帕内塔表示，重要的是，每项裁决均可以对反托拉斯监管机构发行最高罚款 - 500万欧元(570万美元)。总部位于美国的苹果公司被判两项独立侵权，而来自韩国的三星则被判一项侵权。

　　"This was not a half-measure from the antitrust authority," Panetta told Xinhua. "They were sending a message."

　　“这不是反托拉斯当局的权宜之计，”帕内塔告诉新华社。“他们正在发出讯号。”

　　Vincenzo Zeno-Zencovich, a professor of information technology and communications law at Roma Tre University, said the rulings could spark similar rulings and fines in other European countries.

　　罗马特雷大学信息技术和通信法教授文森佐·泽诺-曾科维奇表示，这些裁决可能会在欧洲其他国家引发类似的裁决和罚款。

　　"None of the other authorities want to say ’We are less active than the authority in Italy’," Zeno-Zencovich said in an interview. "The compliance costs will add up."

　　没有任何其他当局会说“我们不如意大利当局那么积极”， 曾科维奇在接受采访时说。“合规成本将会增加”。

　　The fines are reportedly the first ever for what is termed "planned obsolescence" of the high-tech phones.

　　据报道，这些高科技手机被称为“计划淘汰”，这是第一次被罚款。

　　Still, it could be years before either company is forced to pay anything. Panetta noted that the companies each have 60 days to appeal the antitrust ruling, and the appeal process could take as long as a year to complete. Even if the regional court upholds the ruling, the companies could appeal one time after that.

　　不过，两年公司被迫支付费用尚需几年时间。帕内塔指出，两家公司都有60天时间对反垄断裁决提出上诉，上诉程序可能需要长达一年的时间才能完成。即使地区法院维持裁决，这些公司也可以在那之后上诉一次。

　　Apple has not formally commented on the ruling. In a statement, Samsung denied wrongdoing and said the company would cooperate with Italian authorities.

　　苹果尚未正式对该裁决发表评论。在一份声明中，三星否认有不当行为，并表示该公司将与意大利当局合作。

　　"The companies are expected to fight these charges aggressively," Panetta said. "In part that is on principle, and in part because if the ruling is upheld here (in Italy) it could make it to the European Union, and they can levy much bigger fines."

　　“这些公司有望积极抵制这些指控，”帕内塔说。“部分是原则性的，部分是因为如果在这里(在意大利)维持裁决，它会进入欧盟，这样就会征收更多的罚款。”

　　In addition to the potential fines, the companies could be forced to change the way they operate, calling for more transparency on the impacts of software updates and making such updates easier to opt out of.

　　除了潜在的罚款之外，这2家公司可能被迫改变其运营方式，提高软件更新影响的透明度，并使这些更新更容易被拒绝。

　　With this move, Italian regulators reinforce their presence on the vanguard of policing the activities of big, multi-national technology companies, whether it is on unfair competition, tax policies, privacy issues, or consumer advocacy.

　　通过此举，意大利监管机构加强了他们在监管大型跨国科技公司活动的先锋地位，无论是在不公平竞争、税收政策、隐私问题还是消费者权益保护方面。

　　Apple and Samsung were the two largest smartphone makers in the world every quarter between mid-2011 and mid-2018, according to analytic firm Statistica. But this year, China’s Huawei surpassed Apple for the second spot in terms of the number of units sold.

　　根据分析公司Statistica的数据，2011年中期至2018年中期，苹果和三星是全球最大的两家智能手机制造商。但今年，中国的华为在销售量方面超过苹果排名第二。

　　Japan

　　日本

　　Japan’s intricate etiquette system encompasses gratuities. It is socially acceptable on occasions such as weddings, funerals, and special events, but on more common situations, it can actually make the receiver feel belittled, if not insulted.

　　日本错综复杂的礼仪体系包含了各种小费。被习俗允许收受小费的地方包括(但不仅限于)婚礼、葬礼，还有其他一些特殊场合。一般情况下，给小费会被对方认为是一种冒犯、侮辱。

　　The philosophy is that good service should be expected in the first place. Even on occasions where tips are expected, it follows a protocol that includes handing the money in special envelopes as a sign of gratitude and respect.

　　这背后的逻辑与哲学有关：提供优质服务是职责所在，道理上不应该得到额外酬谢。即使在可以接受小费的情况下，也需要遵守一定规矩，比如小费要装在一个特殊的信封里，以示尊重和感谢。

　　Hotel personnel, who are almost universally courteous and prompt, are trained to politely refuse tips.

　　酒店的员工专门受过如何礼貌地拒绝小费的培训。彬彬有礼和及时回应是他们的职业操守准则。