In
2002, the
United States Department of Justice, under the
Sherman Antitrust Act, began a probe into the activities of
dynamic random access memory (DRAM) manufacturers. US computer makers, including
Dell and
Gateway, claimed that
inflated DRAM pricing was causing lost profits and hindering their effectiveness in the marketplace.
To date, five manufacturers have pleaded guilty to their involvement in an international price-fixing conspiracy including
Hynix,
Infineon,
Micron Technology,
Samsung, and
Elpida.
"In December 2003, the Department charged
Alfred P. Censullo, a Regional Sales Manager for
Micron Technology Inc., with obstruction of justice in violation of 18 U.S.C. ยง 1503. Censullo pleaded guilty to the charge and admitted to having withheld and altered documents responsive to a grand jury subpoena served on Micron in June 2002."
On October 20, 2004, Infineon also pled guilty. The company was fined $160M for its involvement, then the third largest
antitrust fine in US history.
Hynix Semiconductor soon took the third position in April 2005 with a $185M criminal penalty after they also admitted guilt. In October 2005,
Samsung entered their guilty plea in connection with the cartel.
See also
References
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External links
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