Taiwan raids former TSMC exec’s home in trade secrets probe

TAIPEI – Taiwan prosecutors said on Nov 27 that investigators had raided the homes of a former senior TSMC executive and seized computers after the company accused him of leaking trade secrets, something his current employer Intel has denied.

TSMC, the world’s largest contract chipmaker and major supplier to companies including Nvidia, said on Nov 25

it had filed a lawsuit

in Taiwan’s Intellectual Property and Commercial Court against Mr Lo Wei-Jen, its former senior vice-president.

In a statement, the Taiwan prosecutors’ intellectual property branch said Mr Lo is suspected of violating Taiwan’s National Security Act.

On the afternoon of Nov 26, investigators, acting on a search warrant, searched two of Mr Lo’s homes, seizing computers, USB drives and other evidence, prosecutors said.

A court also approved a petition to seize his shares and real estate, the statement added.

Mr Lo and Intel did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Earlier on Nov 27, Intel denied TSMC’s allegations.

“Based on everything we know, we have no reason to believe there is any merit to the allegations involving Mr Lo,” Intel said in an e-mailed statement.

Intel said the company maintains rigorous policies and controls that strictly prohibit the use or transfer of any third-party confidential information or intellectual property.

“We take these commitments seriously,” Intel said.

The US chipmaker said it has welcomed back Mr Lo and that he is widely respected across the semiconductor industry for his integrity, leadership and technical expertise.

“Talent movement across companies is a common and healthy part of our industry, and this situation is no different,” the company added.

Mr Lo, who helped drive TSMC’s mass production of cutting-edge 5-nanometre, 3nm and 2nm chips, joined Intel in October after retiring from TSMC following a 21-year career there.

Before joining TSMC in 2004, he had worked at Intel for 18 years.

TSMC had said in a statement that “there is a high probability that Lo uses, leaks, discloses or transfers TSMC’s trade secrets and confidential information to Intel, thus making legal actions necessary”. REUTERS