US Justice Department probing Sony, others for SRAM doings

These kids just can't catch a break. The folks at Sony, fresh off their battery debacle, and struggling to make any sort of relevant quantity for next month's PS3 launch, are being probed by the US Justice Department's antitrust division in regards to the company's SRAM biz. Sony, which did $27.7 million worth of SRAM business last year, says it "intends to cooperate fully with the DOJ in what appears to be an industry-wide inquiry," but that's about all the info we've got so far. Apparently US-based Cypress Semiconductor is also under investigation for similar SRAM doings, and Mitsubishi is even in some retroactive trouble, but there's no word if the situation is similar to the price-fixing scandal that Samsung and others got busted for earlier this year. We'll be keeping an eye on this investigation as it develops. It seems unlikely that any sort of accusations that could come out of this could do much damage to Sony's relatively small share in the industry, but we really wouldn't mind a feel-good puff piece on Sony now and then -- you know, just for a change of pace.

[ghalib @ Oct 31st 2006 1:33PM]

Just saw this on CNN a few minutes ago... sony shares have already dropped 2% today, and they did a pretty concise report of sony's recent flubs, including the ps3 delays and the Li-Ion battery debacle; sounded like no immediate break from their 92% something losses this quarter...

[Andir3.0 @ Oct 31st 2006 1:41PM]

"industry-wide inquiry" - "Sony's relatively small share in the industry" ...

So, nothing to see here... but the fanboys will overreact as usual.

[akijikan @ Oct 31st 2006 1:48PM]

so even though it's an industry-wide inquiry and sony has a relatively small market share, engadget makes the story about sony...not going to help any perceptions...

[Deluxe @ Nov 1st 2006 2:02AM]

"US Justice Department probing industry for SRAM doings" just doesn't have the same sensationalism!

Throw 'Sony' in there and suddenly it's BIG NEWS!!!

[umrain @ Oct 31st 2006 4:50PM]

why is the Associated Press always so biased against Sony!