Makers of flash memory engaging in price fixing?
updated 04:35 pm EST, Thu February 15, 2007
Flash memory price fixing?
An American lawfirm alleges that US shoppers may be paying more than is legal for flash memory. Organized by Hagens Berman Sobol Shapiro, a firm specializing in class action suits, a newly-begun legal investigation accuses numerous companies of conspiring to "fix, raise, maintain and stabilize" flash memory prices. The primary target of the firm seems to be Micron's Crucial Technologies division, but other major corporations have been implicated as well, including Hynix, Samsung and Toshiba -- the major suppliers of memory to Apple, which uses the chips in its popular nano and shuffle iPods. The implication may be that the cost of iPods is artificially high, although not as a result of Apple's intentions. HBSS is encouraging members of the public to get in touch via phone or e-mail if they know anything that could add to the investigation.
