Overview
- The Taiwan High Prosecutors Office confirmed an inquiry into possible transfer of TSMC trade secrets by former executive Wei-Jen Lo to a foreign company.
- Local reports allege Lo departed with confidential documents and handwritten notes related to N2, A16, and A14 technologies, with some accounts describing a large volume of materials.
- Lo retired from TSMC after roughly 21 years and surfaced at Intel in late October, with separate reports saying he rejoined in an R&D leadership role.
- TSMC is collecting evidence and weighing legal action under Taiwan’s Trade Secrets Act, and both TSMC and Intel have declined to comment.
- Authorities have announced no charges to date, and Taiwan’s economics ministry says it is coordinating with prosecutors on potential National Security Act issues.