NVIDIA and ATI, the compaines that provide the chips responsible for most of the the 3D chips the drive modern video games, have been hit with an antitrust class-action lawsuit.

The suit alleges that the two companies colluded to keep their products artificially high. The feds have been poking into it for some time. The plaintiffs’ case got a boost this week with the introduction of an email from an NVIDIA VP to ATI’s then-president.

“I really think we should work harder together on the marketing front. As you and I have talked about, even though we are competitors, we have the common goal of making our category a well positioned, respected playing field. $5 and $8 stocks are a result of no respect.”

As the judge put it, it’s not home run, but it’s a base hit.

There’s also a graph of the difference in prices during the alleged period of conspiracy.

The companies also got a tongue-lashing for trying to withold information behind the shield of “trade secrets.”

“This court is not a wholly-owned subsidiary of your companies. I am against you hiding information from the public,” he said, adding, “If we get to summary judgment in this case nothing will be under seal.”

Even, “if it is under seal and it is the recipe for Coke, you have my permission to blurt it out,” he said.

Nice.

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