Samsung Electronics has been found guilty of fixing prices of DRam memory chips, according to the US Department of Justice (DoJ), which revealed yesterday that the Korean electronics manufacturer has agreed to pay a fine of $300m. 

"Price fixing threatens our free market system, stifles innovation and robs American consumers of the benefit of competitive prices," said Attorney General Alberto R. Gonzales in a statement. 

"Today's guilty plea is evidence of the Department's ongoing commitment to protect consumers from corporations that engage in illegal conduct."

Samsung was accused of illegally inflating prices between 1 April 1999 and 15 June 2002 that it charged to computer manufacturers including Dell, HP, Apple, Compaq, IBM and Gateway, the DoJ alleged.

The company participated in meetings with other memory chip makers in which they agreed to artificially inflate prices.

They conspired to charge certain customers preset prices and to exchange information on the sales of DRam memory to ensure that each party stuck with the pact.

Samsung's guilty plea followed earlier confessions by two other companies and five individuals.

Earlier Hynix of South Korea and German chip maker Infineon pleaded guilty, paying fines of $185m and $160m respectively.

One employee of Micron Technology pleaded guilty in December 2003 to obstruction of justice for withholding and altering documents.