A proposed class-action lawsuit filed in the US District Court for the Northern District of California accuses Samsung Electronics, Micron, and SK Hynix of collusion to artificially inflate prices of dynamic random access memory (DRAM). The plaintiffs, including individuals and small businesses, allege the three companies manipulated the DRAM market starting in 2022 to restrict supply and force higher costs on buyers.
- Samsung, Micron, and SK Hynix accused of DRAM price-fixing since 2022.
- Lawsuit alleges collusion to restrict memory supply and inflate prices.
- Class action seeks triple damages under antitrust laws.
What happened
A group of 17 plaintiffs, including 14 individuals and three small PC businesses, filed a proposed class-action lawsuit in late June 2026 in California. The suit alleges that Samsung, Micron, and SK Hynix orchestrated a plan to systematically raise DRAM prices by controlling production and limiting supply, despite high consumer demand. These three companies are responsible for over 90% of the world's DRAM memory chip manufacturing, giving them significant market power.
The complaint highlights a strategy beginning around 2022 where these chipmakers deliberately cut production of older DRAM products to focus on new, higher-margin memory types for AI and data center applications. This shift drastically tightened supply of conventional DRAM used in everyday consumer electronics like laptops, smartphones, and gaming devices, causing prices to spike. The plaintiffs contend this supply manipulation had no valid economic purpose except to unlawfully inflate prices.
Why it matters
If the allegations prove true, the collusion between these dominant manufacturers could represent one of the most significant antitrust violations in the semiconductor industry in recent years. Because DRAM is an essential component in a vast range of electronic products, the inflated prices ultimately harm consumers and businesses dependent on affordable memory technology. This lawsuit alleges violations of the Sherman Anti-Trust Act and California's Cartwright Act, which allows indirect buyers to pursue damages for market distortions.
The high DRAM prices have contributed to increased costs for companies like Apple and for consumers upgrading or purchasing new computing devices. The ongoing shortage has also affected the broader supply chain amid the surging demand from data centers powering AI services, which require ever-growing amounts of high-bandwidth memory. Industry experts predict this challenging market environment could persist through 2028, prolonging the strain on customers.
What to watch next
Samsung, Micron, and SK Hynix have all indicated they will defend themselves against the allegations. Samsung has not publicly commented, while Micron stated it competes fairly and lawfully. SK Hynix said it is reviewing the complaint carefully before responding. Should the court certify the case as a class action, the litigation process could span multiple years, with any eventual financial compensation to plaintiffs contingent on a successful verdict.
Meanwhile, consumers and businesses should expect continued price pressure on DRAM-dependent devices, as the companies likely maintain tight control over production and allocation amid global demand. The lawsuit may trigger increased regulatory scrutiny of the memory chip sector and could influence how manufacturers manage supplies and pricing strategies going forward.