If you’ve tried to build or upgrade your computer recently, you’d know how ridiculous RAM prices are. There is hope though: a law firm is suing the three main RAM manufacturers – Samsung, Micron, and Hynix – for price fixing. Lawyers are calling it a classic antitrust, price fixing scheme; Samsung, Micron, and Hynix are artificially restricting DRAM chip supply to increase prices.

Samsung, Micron, and Hynix are the three largest memory chip makers in the world. It is estimated that these three companies control 96 percent share of the DRAM market. The lawsuit alleges that the three agreed to limit supply of DRAM to raise prices back in 2016. Therefore, this caused DRAM prices to skyrocket upward.

“What we’ve uncovered in the DRAM market is a classic antitrust, price-fixing scheme in which a small number of kingpin corporations hold the lion’s share of the market,” says Steve Berman, managing partner of Hagens Berman, the firm leading the lawsuit. “Instead of playing by the rules, Samsung, Micron as well as Hynix chose to put consumers in a chokehold, wringing the market for more profit.”

“This isn’t the first time we’ve caught the DRAM industry in a scheme to squeeze more money out of consumers,” Berman adds. “We achieved a $300 million settlement for DRAM purchasers in a similar case, and we intend to prevail for consumers again.”

He claims the price fixing affects the price of all computing devices sold between July 2016 and February 2018. This includes laptops and desktops sold by Acer, Apple, Asus, Dell, Lenovo, HP, Samsung, as well as many others. The issue is also the same with regards to smartphones.

(Source: PCGamer)