3 of the largest RAM chip makers in the world are facing a lawsuit in the United States of America (USA).
Plaintiffs have named Samsung Electronics, SK Hynix, and Micron Technology in a new class action lawsuit filed in a California federal court.
The 17 plaintiffs filed the case, categorized as an antitrust lawsuit, on June 25, 2026. They allege that the three DRAM memory manufacturers unlawfully set constraints on traditional memory supplies to artificially drive up RAM prices.
Context: Dynamic Random-Access Memory (DRAM) is a type of volatile memory that temporarily stores data for quick access in computing systems, such as running applications and loading operating systems.For higher profit, Samsung, SK Hynix, and Micron are accused of deliberately prioritizing manufacturing for hyperscale data centers, which are taking up large amounts of DRAM and high-bandwidth memory (HBM).
This meant RAM production for consumer electronics was reduced on purpose.
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Based on the plaintiffs’ submissions, the three named defendants started coordinating production suppression in late 2022. They claim all three manufacturers reduced output, cut investment plans, and slowed expansion.
Due to the nature of the memory chip industry, there is a high barrier for new entrants. This barrier locks out new competitors who could realistically challenge the existing monopolies and lower prices.
Decisions made by the defendants have affected the consumer electronics market. Globally, the prices of PCs, smartphones, gaming consoles, and other electronics have been going up.
Last week, Apple raised the prices of MacBooks, iPads, and other core products, with Xbox doing the same.
This lawsuit draws renewed focus to the industry at a time when DRAM has become one of the most expensive components inside modern smartphones, PCs, and AI hardware.
Previous RAM Antitrust Lawsuits
The three companies, along with Infineon and Elpida, have in the past pleaded guilty to their involvement in an international price-fixing scandal.
This price-fixing conspiracy happened between 1998 and 2002.
In 2005, the companies were found guilty and all paid fines. Samsung paid a $300 million criminal fine while Hynix paid a $185 million fine.
Samsung, Hynix, and Micron faced another antitrust lawsuit in a U.S. district court back in 2018. The law firm Hagens Berman, which filed the complaint, alleged the three had illegally inflated the price of memory on consumer devices.
However, the lawsuit was dismissed, including on appeal, with the courts citing that the plaintiffs did not offer sufficient plausible evidence for their allegations to make a case under the Sherman Antitrust Act.
Consumers will be keen on this matter to watch if it moves to a jury trial, as requested by the plaintiffs.
