This discussion wants to promote a European Initiative for the regulation of computers hardware market or the promotion of a European supply chain that can grant the interests of the european consumers and technology companies.
The following text is part of the communication already sent to the Italian, Spanish and European Organizations that regulate markets and competition. It explains the actual situation and asks for deeper investigations.
Information concerning the complainant and the company or association of companies giving rise to the complaint
1. Companies involved:
Mainly Samsung Electronics (South Korea), SK Hynix (South Korea), and Micron Technology (United States). Hereinafter referred to as Supplier Companies.
OpenAI, Amazon, Microsoft, Google, Meta, Oracle, Nvidia (United States), and others involved in the purchase of memory. Hereinafter referred to as Purchasing Companies.
2. This complaint is made by the undersigned as a consumer affected by the issue in question.
Description of the alleged infringement and evidence
3. The Supplier Companies are the world's largest manufacturers of computer memory chips.
Over the last few months, due to high demand from Purchasing Companies involved in artificial intelligence (hereinafter AI), global RAM memory production has been almost entirely allocated to the AI sector, leaving the consumer market virtually depleted and with prices often more than tripled for consumers.
The following link provides access to Micron's statement announcing the closure of Crucial, its consumer division, in order to dedicate its entire production to the AI market.
I understand that further investigation by more competent people is needed to verify all the implications and regulations, but personally I see a possible violation of points a), b), c) and d) of Article 81 of the EC Treaty.
I am also aware that both the supplier companies and the purchasing companies involved have their registered offices and production facilities outside the Eurozone and I assume that they are not required to comply with European regulations on production.
However, they certainly have obligations with regard to marketing.
It should also be borne in mind that this issue will have repercussions on the entire consumer electronics market, as every device that requires memory (phones, tablets, televisions, laptops, and even washing machines and refrigerators) will consequently see an increase in production costs.
4. Below is a brief bibliography of some articles that may help to understand the extent of the phenomenon:
More AI, less RAM for everyone. Micron warns: price increases and shortages throughout 2026, perhaps beyond
RAM like gold: what is the memory crisis and why will all tech cost more from 2026 onwards?
https://techprincess.it/crisi-memorie-ram-prezzi/
All the predictable consequences of the RAM crisis
https://www.startmag.it/innovazione/tutte-le-conseguenze-telefonate-della-crisi-della-ram/
Memory chip crisis forces Transcend to delay production
https://www.hdblog.it/hardware/articoli/n640995/crisi-chip-memorie-transcend-ritardo-ssd-chiavette/
Memory crisis and sky-high DRAM prices could run past 2028 as Samsung and SK Hynix opt to 'minimize the risk of oversupply'
Riding the AI Supercycle: Navigating the 2026 Memory & Storage Market
https://www.avnet.com/integrated/resources/article/2026-memory-shortage-ai-supercycle
Memory Industry to Maintain Cautious CapEx in 2026, with Limited Impact on Bit Supply Growth, Says TrendForce
https://www.trendforce.com/presscenter/news/20251113-12780.html
Memory Industry to Maintain Cautious CapEx in 2026, with Limited Impact on Bit Supply Growth, Says TrendForce
https://www.memorymarket.com/a/14566
AI Demand Drives Ongoing SSD & Memory Shortages: Prices Surging Further into 2026 and Beyond
https://www.onedayadvisor.com/2025/10/ai-demand-drives-ssd-memory-shortages.html
RAM memory prices have increased by up to 90%
https://www.mrw.it/news/i-prezzi-delle-memorie-ram-sono-aumentati-fino-al-90/
5. The geographical area concerned is therefore global and, for the purposes of the European Community's competences, the problem affects every European company involved in this market sector or dependent on this supply chain, public administrations that need to upgrade their IT infrastructure, and all European end consumers.
Decision requested from the Commission and legitimate interest
6. The European Commission is requested to conduct a regulatory study of the situation described and to formulate concrete initiatives that can limit or reduce, if not eliminate, the problem of rapidly rising memory prices for the consumer market.
Possibly, even long-term planning of systems that reduce the dependence of European companies on so few non-European suppliers of raw materials and semi-finished products for the hardware market.
7. Personally, I see myself as a consumer and believe that this crisis will affect all European electronics consumers in the long term.
I do not expect a company, which is a legal entity created for the sole purpose of generating profit, to give up moving its production to the most profitable sector.
However, I do expect competition and consumer protection bodies to take action to prevent the consumer sector of a market from being completely abandoned.
The mere fact of having greater purchasing power should not allow a few corporate groups to occupy an entire product sector in a total and exclusive manner, excluding all end consumers.
The opinions expressed on the ECI Forum reflect solely the point of view of their authors and can in no way be taken to reflect the position of the European Commission or of the European Union.
Leave a comment
Comments