Seventeen plaintiffs have filed a class action lawsuit against Samsung, SK Hynix and Micron Technology, alleging the companies colluded to limit RAM supply and raise prices.
The suit, Garciaguirre et al v. Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. et al, was filed June 25 in the Northern District of California. It claims the three firms, which control about 90 percent of the DRAM market, have restricted supplies of DDR3 and DDR4 memory while prioritizing HBM chips for AI data centers.
Plaintiffs include three small businesses: Troy’s Computers LLC, JB Tech Solutions LLC and WNTD Fab LLC. They accuse the manufacturers of using AI demand as a pretext for artificial scarcity that has driven up costs for consumer devices.
The complaint references a 2005 case in which Samsung and SK Hynix pleaded guilty to DRAM price-fixing and paid substantial fines. It also notes sharp stock gains for the companies in recent years amid higher RAM prices.
