Samsung Electronics, SK Hynix, and Micron Technology face a class-action lawsuit in a California federal court. These three companies collectively control approximately 90% of the global DRAM market. The suit accuses them of colluding to manipulate memory chip supply and pricing.
Plaintiffs allege the firms restricted production of conventional DDR3 and DDR4 chips. The companies reportedly claimed they were shifting capacity to meet AI-focused High Bandwidth Memory (HBM) demand. This coordinated action allegedly triggered a 700% price increase over four years.
Samsung and SK Hynix previously pleaded guilty to U.S. price-fixing charges in 2005. The current lawsuit seeks treble damages for consumers. It also requests an injunction to halt the alleged anticompetitive practices.