Oracle sues Micron in federal court in California, alleging microchip price-fixing

Oracle sues Micron alleging microchip price-fixing

BOISE, Idaho — Oracle Corp. is suing Micron Technology Inc. in federal court, saying the semiconductor maker and other companies artificially inflated prices for microchips.

Oracle says Micron and other conspirators, including South Korea’s Hynix and Samsung and Germany’s Infineon, artificially inflated prices above what Oracle’s Sun Microsystems business should have paid for them.

Redwood Shores, Calif.-based Oracle filed its complaint Friday in U.S. District Court in California. Micron spokesman Dan Francisco declined to comment.

The lawsuit says five companies agreed to a nearly $1 billion fine for price-fixing but Micron was granted amnesty from criminal prosecution because it cooperated.

Boise, Idaho-based Micron also escaped a fine in a European case in May because it brought the case to regulators there.