View Full Version : Shame on you Samsung
Serra
10-13-2005, 09:48 PM
Surprised I didn't see this here...
Just want to express my disappointment in Samsung for gouging all of us on memory prices. For those of you who aren't aware, Samsung was fined today the second largest amount in history for corporations that violate anti-trust laws. Apparently they were fixing prices accross the board in cooperation with companies such as Dell, Gateway, HP, Compaq (a subsidiary of HP), and a few others. Seriously Samsung, is being the largest memory chip producer in the world not enough for you? Did you really NEED that extra ten or hundred million that much? I know who i'm going to try boycotting...
:slapass:
EDIT: Felt I had to post a link for people who want a bit more info
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/4340388.stm
-> Now that I found a link, I see that apparently Hynix & Infineon were in on it too (something my local news stations failed to mention). I swear, I'm going to have to start using Transcend or some such brand if I'm going to get away with not supporting monopolizing companies.
~ Serra
Kelldor
10-13-2005, 10:23 PM
Both Hynix and Infineon have also been found guilty of conspiring with Samsung on the price fixxing scheme. Both companies have been fined, and some of thier board members have been imprisoned as well. Micron is cooperating with law enforcement in exchange for immunity. There are other as yet to be named co-conspirators as well. (I wonder if Winbond was in on this).
Prices on ram should be coming down as a result. That's good! I like that justice is being served. I think part of your ininterpretation was mistaken though. From what I've seen, Dell, Compaq, HP etc. were "victims", not co-conspirators. From my understanding it was Michael Dell that originally filed the complaint against the ram chip makers to the justice dept in 2002. I'm not a Dell fan, but I apreciate them bringing this to light.
Edit: I guess 300 million in fines is a drop in the bucket compared to 15 billion in chip sales. Still, this scheme coming out and being broken up will benefit consumers and economies at least.
Serra
10-13-2005, 10:43 PM
In response to prices coming down: I doubt it. With a loss like that that they took, they'll keep prices about the same and use the profit to make up for their court cases, if they're anything like the tobacco companies anyway. Besides, prices never come down in cases like that.
As far as the companies go... no, many were also in on it. The article on the site isn't as fully-detailed as it could have been. Many of these companies have been taking part (not all, but many), and you will hear about charges being laid against them soon.
Besides, since when is 6 months in prison worth stealing of millions of dollars and monopolizing? I could go out and steal a car and get more time than that, especially if I wasn't cooperating with the police (like Samsung wasn't until they were caught)... and I can guarantee you I wouldn't go to a nice, minimum-security, white-collar prison like they will either (and heck, let's give them all a reduced sentence for good behavior too!).
~ Serra
Kelldor
10-13-2005, 10:52 PM
I just watched a couple clips about this on msnbc, check em oout, pretty interesting. Thats where I found out that the PC makers and Dell were the ones that filed the complaint. The reports i watched too were saying more companies were involved, but that the justice department hasn't identified them yet. I wonder who is next, hehehe :)
Bloody_Sorcerer
10-14-2005, 01:35 PM
well, if dell was complaining, it must've hurt dell, which makes me happy.
Crankster
10-14-2005, 02:51 PM
Hehe, agreed
[XC] leviathan18
10-14-2005, 02:55 PM
im glad dell did something good for us...
if they didnt complain we wont see cheaper ram....
IamAnoobieCheez
10-19-2005, 02:26 PM
im glad dell did something good for us...
if they didnt complain we wont see cheaper ram....
LOL
zenzog
10-19-2005, 09:48 PM
It's only a crime once you get caught.
Vincentvega18
10-20-2005, 07:43 AM
It's only a crime once you get caught.
Ethics is not just a county in England :D
perry_78
10-20-2005, 08:39 AM
It's only a crime once you get caught.
True :)
Technically the moment you indulge in a criminal activity it is regarded as a crime, but practically you're correct.
Don't stop till you drop :)