Memory Oligopoly: When the Law Allows Abuse Without Conspiracy

The problem is not just that three companies control the RAM and NAND memory market and raise prices in unison. The issue is that current legislation allows nearly identical behavior without the need for explicit conspiracy, effectively legalizing abuse. This contradiction between competition theory and oligopoly reality harms consumers, who pay more for technology without real alternatives.

three corporate towers shaped like RAM modules and NAND chips casting identical shadows that merge into a single dark mass, a gavel labeled antitrust law hovering above them but frozen mid-air unable to strike, consumers as tiny figures trapped inside a transparent price cage made of rising red price tags, while invisible strings connect the towers' hands showing synchronized price hikes without explicit conspiracy, cinematic photorealistic illustration, dramatic high-contrast lighting, heavy shadows, blue and red neon glow from chip circuits, metallic surfaces reflecting distorted cityscape, ultra-detailed microchip textures visible on tower facades, wide-angle lens emphasizing power imbalance

Tacit collusion: how the DRAM and NAND market evades the law 🧠

Samsung, SK Hynix, and Micron dominate over 90% of the DRAM market. They don't need to meet in a basement; it's enough to watch a leader's moves and follow them. Current antitrust law requires proof of explicit agreement, something nearly impossible to obtain when price hikes are parallel and public. This legal loophole allows the oligopoly to operate without risk, while consumers bear the cost of technology that should be more accessible.

The club of three: prices rising as if by magic 🔮

It's curious: every time a manufacturer announces a price increase, the other two follow suit within days. No calls, no emails, no secret meetings. It's as if they have a sixth sense for business. Or maybe just a highly developed sense for detecting when they can empty the buyer's wallet without anyone complaining. Meanwhile, consumers wait for the next price hike to be the last. Spoiler: it won't be.