Samsung, SK Hynix, and Micron Hit With Lawsuit Over DRAM Price Fixing Allegations
Three of the biggest names in computer memory—Samsung, SK Hynix, and Micron—are facing a class action lawsuit that accuses them of coordinating pricing and manipulating the DRAM market.
What the lawsuit claims
The case, titled Garciaguirre et al. v. Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. et al., was submitted on June 25 in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California. The plaintiffs are represented by Bathaee Dunne LLP, a firm known for handling technology-focused litigation.
The filing argues that DRAM suppliers acted in unison to change output and control availability. It alleges they “simultaneously cut production,” coordinated a shift toward HBM, and moved away from older DDR3 and DDR4 memory. In the suit’s telling, their actions “decreased and locked up” supply of standard DRAM while prices rose quickly and dramatically.
In addition to the alleged production changes, the complaint claims Samsung, SK Hynix, and Micron continued to restrict conventional DRAM availability while directing resources toward HBM, which the suit describes as less profitable per unit of die. It also alleges that, in some instances, they simply abandoned or discontinued certain channels tied to conventional DRAM supply.
How the complaint says the market was affected
The lawsuit frames the situation as something a typical business would exploit: when prices are climbing fast, competitors would normally push to supply more. Instead, the plaintiffs argue the companies coordinated exits from the market, shrinking supply further and driving prices higher as a result.
One claim in the complaint points to supplier behavior that allegedly discourages bargaining. It references comments from Valve engineer Pierre-Loup Griffas, who said suppliers “never talk to [them] again” if a buyer refuses the requested price.
The filing further states the trio understands why new competitors can’t easily enter DRAM. It alleges that the cost and specialized know-how required are too high for newcomers to catch up, leaving Samsung, SK Hynix, and Micron protected by an informal barrier around the market. The suit argues their strategy is shaped by the protection they collectively benefit from.
Why DRAM prices matter for gaming hardware
Memory pricing has reportedly been a major pressure point for the gaming industry, especially as manufacturing expenses for console makers continue to rise. The complaint highlights a pattern of increasing prices across major platforms, including the PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and Nintendo Switch 2.
It also cites the newly announced Steam Machine as an example of how far costs can climb, pointing to a starting price of $1049.
What this type of case usually means for consumers
The complaint notes that outcomes in corporate pricing disputes like this often end in settlements. Because of that, it suggests it’s difficult to expect memory prices to fall purely due to the lawsuit.
It also mentions Lenovo’s recent prediction that memory prices will never return to the lows seen before the artificial intelligence boom—an outlook that would be especially grim for anyone hoping for a quick turnaround in hardware costs.
