“Based on everything we know, we have no reason to believe there is any merit to the allegations involving Mr Lo,” Intel said. The company also emphasized that it maintains strict policies to prevent the use or transfer of any third-party confidential information or intellectual property, adding, “We take these commitments seriously.”
Lo, who previously spent 21 years at TSMC and helped drive mass production of cutting-edge 5-nanometre, 3-nm, and 2-nm chips, joined Intel in October after retiring from the Taiwanese chipmaker. Before his tenure at TSMC, he had worked at Intel for 18 years. Intel described him as widely respected in the semiconductor industry for his integrity, leadership, and technical expertise. “Talent movement across companies is a common and healthy part of our industry, and this situation is no different,” the company said.
TSMC filed a lawsuit against Lo on Tuesday in Taiwan's Intellectual Property and Commercial Court. In its statement, TSMC claimed there was “a high probability” that Lo used, disclosed, or transferred the company’s trade secrets and confidential information to Intel, making legal action necessary.
Taiwan’s Ministry of Economic Affairs said it will cooperate with authorities to determine whether the case involves infringement of core technologies or violations of the National Security Act.
The dispute highlights ongoing tensions in the semiconductor industry, where the movement of high-level talent between leading firms often raises questions about intellectual property protection and competitive advantage.