A new class action lawsuit accuses Samsung, SK Hynix, and Micron of restricting the supply of conventional RAM while shifting production toward AI-focused memory, allegedly driving up prices for consumers and businesses.
Filed on behalf of individual and business buyers, the lawsuit claims the three companies—which produce most of the world's DRAM—coordinated efforts to reduce production of DDR3 and DDR4 memory while prioritizing high-bandwidth memory (HBM), a premium type of DRAM widely used in AI data centers.
According to the complaint, this strategy contributed to sharp increases in memory prices, raising costs across the consumer electronics industry.
The lawsuit alleges the companies simultaneously reduced conventional DRAM output, transitioned manufacturing toward HBM, and limited the availability of DDR3 and DDR4 despite rapidly rising demand and prices.
Plaintiffs argue that in a competitive market, higher prices would normally encourage manufacturers to increase production. Instead, they claim Samsung, SK Hynix, and Micron collectively kept supply constrained, allowing prices to remain elevated.
The complaint also argues that the three companies dominate the global DRAM market, with enormous costs, technical expertise, and export restrictions making it difficult for new competitors to enter.
The lawsuit points to previous DRAM price-fixing cases involving the same companies. In 2005, Samsung and SK Hynix pleaded guilty to participating in a global DRAM price-fixing conspiracy, while Micron avoided penalties after cooperating with investigators.
The case comes as rising memory costs continue to affect consumer electronics, with companies including Microsoft and Apple recently citing higher memory prices as a factor behind hardware price increases.