TSMC files lawsuit against former senior VP Lo Wei-jen, alleging high probability of trade secret leaks to Intel amid contract breaches.
TAIPEI: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) has filed a lawsuit against former executive Lo Wei-jen, alleging he likely leaked trade secrets to new employer Intel.
The world’s biggest chipmaker said Lo retired in July as senior vice president and joined rival Intel as executive vice president, breaching his employment contract and non-compete agreement.
TSMC stated the case lodged in the Intellectual Property and Commercial Court was based on Lo’s contractual obligations and regulations including the Trade Secrets Act.
“There is a high probability that Lo uses, leaks, discloses, delivers, or transfers TSMC’s trade secrets and confidential information to Intel,” the company said in a statement.
Lo was transferred to TSMC’s Corporate Strategy Department in March 2024 but allegedly continued meeting with Research and Development staff to gather information about advanced technologies under development.
The former executive had signed non-disclosure and non-compete agreements with TSMC and told company lawyers during his exit interview that he planned to join an “academic institution”.
Intel did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the allegations.
Taiwan’s Ministry for Economic Affairs said it would “closely monitor any impact on the industry” and collaborate with prosecutors to determine if the case involves National Security Act violations.
TSMC has been a major beneficiary of artificial intelligence investment, with clients including Nvidia and Apple pouring billions into chips and data centres.
Nvidia recently announced a USD 5 billion investment in struggling Intel, responding to US efforts to bring more semiconductor manufacturing back to American soil.
