Samsung, SK Hynix, and Micron Face US Lawsuit Over Alleged RAM Price-Fixing

By: Harsh Vardhan

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Updated on: 29-Jun-2026 04:00 PM

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​Samsung, SK Hynix, and Micron, the world’s largest memory suppliers, are facing a lawsuit in the United States for allegedly fixing RAM prices and restricting global supply. The complaint, filed in a federal court in California, accuses the companies of manipulating the market while prices surged and supply remained limited. These three firms control almost the entire global DRAM market, and their actions are said to have worsened the ongoing memory shortage.

Key Highlights

• Samsung, SK Hynix, and Micron sued in US for alleged RAM price-fixing and supply restriction.
• Lawsuit claims DRAM prices rose 700 percent over four years due to coordinated production cuts.
• Apple, OnePlus, and Nothing raised device prices as memory costs increased sharply.
• Micron shifted focus to AI clients and signed 16 new supply agreements through 2030.
• Previous investigations led to fines for Samsung and SK Hynix for similar conduct.

Details of the Lawsuit

The lawsuit is a proposed class action brought by both individual and business consumers. Plaintiffs claim that Samsung, SK Hynix, and Micron violated several US laws by coordinating to limit DRAM supply and raise prices. According to the complaint, the companies began restricting supply and fixing prices from 2022, at a time when demand was low. Over four years, DRAM prices reportedly rose by about 700 percent.

The suit alleges that the companies “simultaneously cut production” and shifted their focus to high-bandwidth memory (HBM), which is in high demand for AI data centres. They also exited older DDR3 and DDR4 modules, further reducing conventional DRAM supply. As a result, prices for memory used in regular devices increased sharply. The complaint argues that in a competitive market, at least one supplier would typically expand output when prices surge, but none of the three did so. Instead, all three companies reduced production together.

Samsung, SK Hynix, and Micron have not yet publicly responded to the lawsuit. The plaintiffs are seeking injunctive relief to address the alleged anticompetitive conduct, as well as treble damages, litigation costs, and legal fees.

Impact on the Industry

Rising memory costs have affected several major technology companies. Apple recently raised prices on select devices due to increased RAM costs. Other phone makers, such as OnePlus and Nothing, have also increased prices. The shift toward HBM has been driven by strong demand from AI companies, who are willing to pay high prices for advanced memory. Earlier this year, Micron announced it would shut down its consumer memory division, Crucial, to focus on supplying AI clients. The company has signed 16 new memory supply agreements that extend until 2030, suggesting that high memory prices may persist for years.

The lawsuit notes that entering the DRAM market is difficult for new competitors. Building a single DRAM fabrication plant can cost between $15 billion and $20 billion and take years to complete. The processes required to produce usable chips are protected by decades of trade secrets. US export controls also prevent Chinese companies from accessing current-generation equipment. Even after production, new chips must undergo 12 to 18 months of customer qualification before they are widely adopted.

Previous Investigations and Legal Actions

This is not the first time these companies have faced scrutiny. The lawsuit references a US Department of Justice investigation into alleged price-fixing from 1998 to 2022. During that period, Samsung and SK Hynix pleaded guilty and paid fines of nearly $300 million and $185 million, respectively. Micron avoided a fine by cooperating with authorities. The complaint also mentions a price increase between 2016 and 2018, which led to a class action lawsuit in the US and an investigation by the Chinese government. Plaintiffs argue that the current case marks the third such cycle involving these firms in the DRAM market.

The lawsuit was filed on June 25. No trial date has been set.