Taiwan court sentences Tokyo Electron employee over trade secrets
AP News • • business
Key Points:
- A Taiwanese court sentenced former Tokyo Electron employee Chen Li-ming to 10 years in prison for illegally obtaining trade secrets from TSMC, Taiwan’s leading chipmaker, in a case highlighting the island’s efforts to protect its semiconductor industry.
- Tokyo Electron was fined approximately $4.8 million NT dollars, and four other individuals received prison sentences of up to six years for their involvement.
- Chen used his connections at TSMC to access and pass confidential information to Tokyo Electron, aiming to improve his personal work performance and the company’s bids as a TSMC supplier.
- The case underscores Taiwan’s commitment to safeguarding its advanced technology and economic security amid the global boom in artificial intelligence and semiconductor demand.
- Both Tokyo Electron and TSMC emphasized their zero-tolerance policies towards trade secret violations, with Tokyo Electron pledging to strengthen its information management systems following the court ruling.
