Overview
- TSMC filed the case on November 25 in Taiwan’s Intellectual Property and Commercial Court, citing the Trade Secrets Act, the employment contract, and a non-compete agreement.
- The company alleges a high probability that Wei-Jen Lo used or transferred confidential process information to Intel and is seeking legal remedies.
- TSMC says Lo signed non-disclosure and non-compete agreements and told its general counsel in a July 22 exit interview that he planned to join an academic institution.
- Lo retired in July after a 21-year tenure and joined Intel in October as an executive vice president; Intel and Lo have not commented beyond CEO Lip-Bu Tan’s prior denial of wrongdoing.
- Taiwan’s economic and science agencies say prosecutors are evaluating the matter, including potential national-security implications tied to core technologies.