Why Samsung, SK Hynix And Micron Are Facing A Major US Lawsuit Over RAM Prices

Samsung Electronics, SK Hynix, and Micron Technology are facing a class-action lawsuit in the US District Court for the Northern District of California. The lawsuit alleges that these major memory chip manufacturers coordinated to restrict the supply of DRAM chips, artificially driving up prices for consumers and small businesses. This price surge has impacted various electronics, including smartphones, laptops, and PCs.

The legal action comes amid a massive surge in demand for memory chips driven by the artificial intelligence boom, as AI companies require vast amounts of DRAM and high-bandwidth memory for data centers. While the manufacturers claim they are investing in new facilities to increase capacity, the court will need to determine if supply constraints were market-driven or intentionally manipulated. This case also de facto echoes a previous price-fixing scandal in 2005 involving Samsung.

Industry analysts suggest that even with the lawsuit, memory prices may remain high for the foreseeable future. This is due to large AI companies securing long-term supply agreements, which further limits the availability of chips for the general consumer market.

(Source：Times Now)