Intel denies TSMC allegations that executive leaked trade secrets

TAIPEI (Reuters) – Intel on Thursday denied allegations by Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing that one of its executives, Wei-Jen Lo, who formerly worked for the Taiwanese chipmaker, leaked trade secrets.

“Based on everything we know, we have no reason to believe that the allegations regarding Mr. Lo are justified,” Intel said in an emailed statement. he said.

Lo did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Intel said the company has strict policies and controls that strictly prohibit the use or transfer of confidential information or intellectual property belonging to any third party.

“We take these commitments seriously,” Intel said.

The US chipmaker said it welcomed Lo’s return and said he was widely respected in the semiconductor industry for his integrity, leadership and technical expertise. “The movement of talent between companies is a common and healthy part of our industry, and this situation is no different,” the company added.

TSMC said on Tuesday it had filed a lawsuit against Lo, the former senior vice president, in Taiwan’s Intellectual Property and Commercial Court.

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

Lo worked at Intel for 18 years before joining TSMC in 2004.

TSMC stated in its statement that “there is a high probability that Lo will use, leak, disclose or transfer TSMC’s trade secrets and confidential information to Intel, therefore legal action is necessary.”

Taiwan’s economy ministry said this week it would cooperate to determine whether the case involved violations of basic technologies or violations of Taiwan’s National Security Law.

(Reporting by Wen-Yee Lee; Writing by Ben Blanchard; Editing by Christian Schmollinger and Jacqueline Wong)