KRThe AI boom is increasing legal challenges for major South Korean chipmakers like Samsung and SK hynix, who are facing a U.S. class-action lawsuit alleging they colluded to reduce conventional DRAM supply while focusing on higher-margin high-bandwidth memory (HBM). The lawsuit involves U.S.-based Micron Technology and claims the companies' actions artificially inflated DRAM prices. According to John Quinn of Quinn Emanuel, an antitrust violation would require proof of an explicit agreement among the firms. In addition to antitrust concerns, Korean chipmakers are encountering rising patent disputes, particularly in the U.S., where non-practicing entities (NPEs), sometimes referred to as 'patent trolls,' file lawsuits targeting valuable technologies like HBM. Between 2020 and 2025, 90.6% of the 610 patent infringement suits filed against Korean companies occurred in the U.S., with NPEs responsible for 400 of these cases. Samsung alone faces 350 suits, many from NPEs.
Bias read (Center): The article presents information about legal and economic challenges faced by South Korean chipmakers due to the AI boom, including antitrust issues and patent disputes. It includes perspectives from John Quinn of Quinn Emanuel but does not exhibit clear bias towards any particular political stance.
