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Memory chip prices It has risen sharply since last yearThis makes upgrading computers or purchasing new products from companies more expensive like apple.
These price increases are now the subject of a proposed class action lawsuit, brought by a group of consumers and small businesses. The complaint targets three companies, Samsung Electronics, Micron, and SK Hynix, which together make more than 90% of the global supply of dynamic random access memory, called DRAM. It alleges that these companies colluded to restrict supply and inflate prices.
The suitwhich was filed in late June in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, has 17 plaintiffs, including 14 individuals and three small companies that deal in personal computers.
A Samsung Electronics representative did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
A Micron spokesperson told CNET in an email that the company will defend itself against the claims in the lawsuit.
“Micron disagrees with the allegations in the complaint,” the spokesperson said. “We compete aggressively, fairly and in compliance with all applicable laws wherever we do business.”
“We are aware that the complaint has been received, and the company will respond after closely reviewing it,” a SK Hynix spokesperson said in an email.
Plaintiffs claim the price-fixing began in 2022
The main allegation in the lawsuit is that the three companies set DRAM supply and prices starting in 2022 in ways that “make no economic sense” other than colluding to raise prices. The plaintiffs allege that by reducing production of legacy memory in order to focus on higher-bandwidth memory geared toward data centers and AI companies, the companies caused the cost of memory to rise.
“This plan has worked so far, as consumer buyers of traditional DRAM and the devices that include it paid ultra-competitive prices and otherwise suffered the effects of a distorted market paralyzed by the oligopolistic behavior of DRAM,” the filing states.
The lawsuit alleges that these companies violated the rules Sherman Antitrust ActCalifornia’s Cartwright Act – which allows indirect buyers to file lawsuits in antitrust cases – and other antitrust laws. It seeks a jury trial and damages equal to three times the plaintiffs’ alleged losses.
Rate relief will not come soon
The class action, if the court allows it to go forward, could take years to resolve and even longer to pay out to the plaintiffs if successful.
In the meantime, shoppers will likely keep seeing them Higher prices On DRAM-based products, including smartphones, Gaming systems And laptops.
Data centers that support the rapid growth of AI services continue to consume large amounts of memory, contributing to supply shortages and high prices. Technology experts predict The so-called RAMageddon could last until 2028, forcing manufacturers to raise prices and potentially reduce demand as consumers postpone purchases.
