TSMC sues former Intel executive for leaking confidential information
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TSMC, the world's largest semiconductor foundry, announced on November 25, 2025, that it had filed a lawsuit against former executive Luo Weiren for allegedly violating a non-compete agreement and leaking trade secrets. TSMC claims that Luo's appointment as an executive at Intel has made it likely that TSMC's critical technical information will be leaked to competitors, and filed the lawsuit with Taiwan's Intellectual Property and Commercial Court.
TSMC Sues Ex-Executive Who Joined Intel Over Trade Secrets - Bloomberg
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-11-25/tsmc-files-trade-secret-suit-against-ex-executive-at-intel
TSMC files lawsuit against former executive on security concerns | Reuters
https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/tsmc-files-lawsuit-against-former-executive-security-concerns-2025-11-25/
Options Corner: Taiwan Semiconductor's Trade Secret Dispute With Intel Presents A Contrarian Opportunity - Taiwan Semiconductor (NYSE:TSM) - Benzinga
https://www.benzinga.com/markets/options/25/11/49073379/tsmc-tsm-stock-trade-secret-dispute-intel-contrarian-bull-spread
TSMC sues Lo following trade secret probe - Taipei Times
https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/biz/archives/2025/11/26/2003847825
Luo was previously in charge of TSMC's research and development department and played a central role in mass-producing cutting-edge chips used in AI (artificial intelligence) accelerators and other applications.
When Luo left TSMC in July 2025, he falsely explained to TSMC's legal staff that he was going to an academic institution, concealing his plans to change jobs. In reality, however, he was appointed an executive at Intel.
by Nicolas Vigier
TSMC strongly suspects that Luo illegally took out confidential information related to next-generation miniaturization manufacturing processes, such as 2-nanometer, A16, and A14, during his tenure at TSMC and provided it to Intel.
In response, Intel CEO Lip Vu Tan denied the allegations of wrongdoing in an interview with Bloomberg and expressed his respect for intellectual property rights.
This issue has also attracted the attention of Taiwanese investigative authorities, and prior to TSMC's complaint, the Taiwan High Prosecutors' Office announced that it had launched an investigation into Mr. Lo on suspicion of trade secret theft.
Taiwan's Ministry of Economic Affairs also said in a statement that it 'respects TSMC's legal action and will closely monitor its impact on the industry,' and that it will cooperate to determine whether the move constitutes an infringement of core technology or a violation of Taiwan's national security law.
Regarding the impact on the market, financial media Benzinga analyzed that although TSMC's stock price temporarily fell following the news of the lawsuit, this was merely 'noise' in the data. Benzinga stated that TSMC's stock price is still in a bullish market and that the recent drop is an 'opportunity for contrarian trading.'
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