Some consumers and small and medium-sized businesses in the United States filed a lawsuit against Samsung Electronics (005930), SK Hynix (000660), and Micron Technology, alleging that they colluded to raise DRAM prices. According to Quartz, an American online economic media outlet, on the 29th (local time), the 17 plaintiffs filed a lawsuit with the Northern District of California on the 25th to stop pressuring production and pay three times the amount overpaid due to collusion. A lawsuit seeking compensation was filed. The price of general-purpose DRAM rose by about 700% over four years, and according to the complaint, the plaintiffs claim that the three companies intentionally kept supply low to drive up prices. Evidence showing the ripple effect of supply restrictions cited the case of Apple recently raising the prices of products such as the iPad and MacBook. In 2005, Samsung and SK Hynix were accused of price fixing between 1998 and 2002 by the U.S. Department of Justice. The company pleaded guilty to the charges and was sentenced to a total fine of $731 million (approximately 1.13 trillion won) and imprisonment for some executives.