Intel says star hire from TSMC didn’t steal secrets | The VergeSkip to main contentThe homepageThe VergeThe Verge logo.The VergeThe Verge logo.TechReviewsScienceEntertainmentAIHamburger Navigation ButtonThe homepageThe VergeThe Verge logo.Hamburger Navigation ButtonNavigation DrawerThe VergeThe Verge logo.Login / Sign UpcloseCloseSearchTechExpandAmazonAppleFacebookGoogleMicrosoftSamsungBusinessCreatorsMobilePolicySecurityTransportationReviewsExpandLaptopsPhonesHeadphonesTabletsSmart HomeSmartwatchesSpeakersDronesScienceExpandSpaceEnergyEnvironmentHealthEntertainmentExpandGamesTV ShowsMoviesAudioAIVerge ShoppingExpandBuying GuidesDealsGift GuidesSee All ShoppingCarsExpandElectric CarsAutonomous CarsRide-sharingScootersOther TransportationFeaturesVideosExpandYouTubeTikTokInstagramPodcastsExpandDecoderThe VergecastVersion HistoryNewslettersExpandThe Verge DailyInstallerVerge DealsNotepadOptimizerRegulatorThe StepbackArchivesStoreSubscribeFacebookThreadsInstagramYoutubeRSSThe VergeThe Verge logo.Intel says star hire from TSMC didn’t steal secretsComments DrawerCommentsLoading commentsGetting the conversation ready...NewsCloseNewsPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All NewsGadgetsCloseGadgetsPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All GadgetsTechCloseTechPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All TechIntel says star hire from TSMC didn’t steal secretsHis former employer claims Wei-Jen Lo broke noncompete agreements when he joined Intel.His former employer claims Wei-Jen Lo broke noncompete agreements when he joined Intel.by Dominic PrestonCloseDominic PrestonNews EditorPosts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All by Dominic PrestonNov 27, 2025, 12:21 PM UTCLinkShareIllustration by Alex Castro / The VergeDominic PrestonCloseDominic PrestonPosts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All by Dominic Preston is a news editor with over a decade’s experience in journalism. He previously worked at Android Police and Tech Advisor.Intel has defended itself against accusations that its latest executive hire stole trade secrets, as TSMC sues the exec and Taiwanese prosecutors say they’ve begun a probe into the incident.Wei-Jen Lo, a Taiwanese engineer, joined Intel this fall, hired to help the company improve its mass production processes. He’d previously worked at the American company in the ‘80s, during its boom years, before joining TSMC in 2004, helping to oversee that company’s most successful period too.This week TSMC announced that it was suing Lo, alleging that he violated his employment contract and noncompete agreement, along with Taiwan’s Trade Secrets Act. “There is a high probability that Lo uses, leaks, discloses or transfers TSMC’s trade secrets and confidential information to Intel, thus making legal actions necessary,” TSMC said.The Taiwanese authorities are now involved too. Reuters reports that prosecutors have opened a probe into Lo, and that investigators have raided two of his homes, seizing computers, USB drives and other evidence. Lo’s real estate and shares may also be seized.“Based on everything we know, we have no reason to believe there is any merit to the allegations involving Mr. Lo,” an anonymous Intel spokesperson told Reuters, defending its policies to prohibit the transfer of confidential third-party information. “We take these commitments seriously,” Intel said.Taiwan also takes its trade secrets seriously though, and has already indicted three other people this year in a separate case involving the alleged theft of TSMC’s chip-making technology to help a Japanese rival. Intel’s involvement complicates the situation, now that the US government has a 10 percent stake in the company and hopes to revive its fortunes as a semiconductor giant and capitalize on the AI boom that TSMC is currently profiting from.Follow topics and authors from this story to see more like this in your personalized homepage feed and to receive email updates.Dominic PrestonCloseDominic PrestonNews EditorPosts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All by Dominic PrestonChipsCloseChipsPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All ChipsGadgetsCloseGadgetsPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All GadgetsIntelCloseIntelPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All IntelNewsCloseNewsPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All NewsTechCloseTechPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All TechMost PopularMost PopularWyze’s new security camera watches your yard from inside your homeYou can play classic Nintendo games on these custom SNES-inspired Nike sneakersI’m officially done with YouTube KidsYou’re buying a Frame TV? 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Intel is currently facing allegations of trade secret misappropriation related to the hiring of Wei-Jen Lo, a former TSMC engineer, by the company. The core of the dispute centers around a lawsuit filed by TSMC, alleging that Lo used confidential information to benefit Intel. This legal action is further complicated by an investigation initiated by Taiwanese prosecutors, who have conducted raids on Lo’s residences and seized digital evidence, including computers and USB drives. Intel has emphatically denied any wrongdoing, asserting it takes commitments regarding the prohibition of third-party information transfer seriously. The company’s stance is reinforced by its existing policies and its desire to leverage Lo’s expertise to improve its mass production processes, given its strategic importance in the current semiconductor landscape, particularly during the AI boom.

The investigation’s escalation introduces significant geopolitical considerations, reflecting Intel’s 10% ownership stake in TSMC and the company's wider role in the ongoing technological competition. Taiwan’s aggressive stance on safeguarding trade secrets, evidenced by the earlier indictment of three individuals in a separate investigation, underscores the severity with which intellectual property rights are treated. The legal battle between Intel and TSMC highlights the intricate relationships and potential conflicts within the global semiconductor industry, demonstrating the substantial risks involved in talent acquisition and the heightened scrutiny placed on safeguarding proprietary information. The accusations, regardless of their ultimate veracity, may have a lasting impact on Intel’s operational practices and its relationship with key industry partners.