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Infineon To Pay $160 Million For Fixing RAM Prices

Posted by timothy on from the long-running-saga dept.

Jerrod K writes "Infineon Technologies pleaded guilty to charges of price fixing in an international conspiracy. The Justice Department said this is the third largest antitrust settlement ever. Other memory chip makers involved include Hynix, Samsung, and Micron Technology." Reader phalse phace adds a link to CNET's coverage.

4 of 356 comments (clear)

  1. Now thats fair. by DAldredge · · Score: 5, Insightful

    A local family man is facing 20+ years in prision for walking into the vault at the back where he worked and taking 100,000 USD.

    Why do large corps get away with crap like this, hell the goverment doesn't even go after those whitecollar criminals that skip bail...

    But, normal crimes they come down hard on.

  2. Free market isn't perfect by revscat · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Cases like this remind me why I don't think the libertarian philosophy towards free markets is all that realistic. Many libertarians believe that things such as this should be left to the marketplace to settle, and that government "interference" like this ultimately harms the market. I emphatically disagree. There are inherent flaws with the free market that the justice system can and should remedy so that the overall market is healthier thereby. Collusion does no one -- consumers, industries, or the economy as a whole -- any favors, and I fail to see how letting the market handle it would do anything but unfairly fatten the pockets of those who benefit.

    1. Re:Free market isn't perfect by Jahf · · Score: 5, Insightful

      You're right in the "many libertarians" statement, but that doesn't mean it is a clear majority. Unfortunately for Libs (like me) there are really 2 Lib groups within the party. Right/Conservative and Left/Liberal.

      The Liberal side would be more in favor of government taking care of business like this but trying for the most part to stay out of other places like social laws (most especially privacy). The Conservative side is more set on seeing government stay out of business entirely as well as the social aspects.

      I'm primarily a Libertarian Left because I'm more moderate on business than a Democrat, but far more liberal on social issues than a Republican, and I think both parties have sold out when it comes to privacy. However in this case I think the matter was solved properly.

      --
      It is more productive to voice thoughtful opinions (reply) than to judge (moderate) others.
  3. Re:Does this mean memory prices will fall? by mr_spatula · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Sure. Just like CD prices fell after the CD price fixing settlemet... oh, wait...

    Then I guess this will be like my rates with progressive going lower after they had the class action law suit over adjusting rates based on credit... oh, wait... that didn't happen either.

    The only peopel to benefit from this will be the lawyers and the major companies - the rest of us will be lucky to get a coupon for a dollar off.