Memory Manufacturers Accused of Price-Fixing in RAM Crisis Lawsuit

A class-action lawsuit has accused the three biggest memory manufacturers of colluding to fix pricing in the midst of an unprecedented increase of consumer RAM and storage pricing.

A recent class-action lawsuit filed in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California has targeted Samsung, Micron, and SK Hynix, alleging that they colluded to fix pricing amidst soaring consumer RAM and storage costs. The lawsuit claims that the trio formed a monopoly and engaged in anticompetitive practices by transitioning from consumer-level memory production to High-Bandwidth Memory (HBM) for AI data centers. This strategic supply constraint allegedly hindered new entrants from competing in the DRAM market due to the high costs and time required to establish manufacturing facilities.

The lawsuit also references past instances of collusion between the companies, such as fines imposed on SK Hynix and Samsung in 2005 for price-fixing DRAM pricing. Despite Micron denying the allegations and asserting fair competition, the lawsuit seeks damages and injunctive relief to halt collusion and provide relief to consumers. The supply constraints in the RAM and storage markets have significantly impacted the electronics industry, leading to price hikes in various hardware products, including gaming consoles and PCs.